Compare towns
Plaistow vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Wells | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
11,713Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Wells and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.