Compare towns
Strafford vs Hampstead vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Strafford | Hampstead | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
9,102 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Hampstead School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.