What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westfield	Hampstead
People
Population	40,378Highest	9,102Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampstead and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S.	$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,299±$149Highest 8% below U.S.
	Hampstead and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#197 of 282 in MA	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Westfield	Hampstead School District
High school in town	Westfield High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.