Compare towns
Plaistow vs Walpole vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plaistow | Walpole | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
26,388Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 131% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 120 in NH | #107 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.