Hampstead

Rockingham County•Seacoast Region•Population: 8,998

Overview

Hampstead is a residential town in Rockingham County near the Massachusetts border, built around several small lakes including Big Island Pond. Its rural character has gradually given way to suburban subdivisions as commuters from the Boston area have moved north.

The town's lakes provide swimming, fishing, and boating for residents, while a modest commercial strip along Route 111 covers everyday shopping needs. Hampstead has no rail service, so residents rely on Route 111 and nearby I-93 for commuting.

Families are drawn to Hampstead's combination of lake access, decent schools, and proximity to the Massachusetts border, while retirees and second-home owners have also settled around the larger ponds. Housing costs sit above the state average given the town's commuter appeal.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Lake access
•Good schools
•MA border access
•Family-friendly

✗ Cons

•Limited services
•No rail access
•Traffic on Route 111

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Hampstead.

2025 Local Tax Rate

$19.09

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$16.88

Equalization ratio: 88%

Municipal

$3.51

Local School

$13.83

State Education

$1.14

County

$0.61

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

Year	Total Rate	Effective Rate	Municipal	Local School	State Ed.	County
2025	$19.09	$16.88	$3.51	$13.83	$1.14	$0.61

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$4,773	$398
$350,000	$6,682	$557
$500,000	$9,545	$795
$750,000	$14,318	$1,193
$1,000,000	$19,090	$1,591

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $19.09 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Open Full Calculator →Compare With Other Towns →View Statewide Rankings →

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High

80.6°F

Winter Avg High

38°F

Annual Snowfall

46.2 in

Annual Rainfall

50.2 in

Sunny Days/Year

264

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

41 mi

~57 min drive

Manchester

22 mi

~38 min drive

Portsmouth

37 mi

~53 min drive

Concord

36 mi

~55 min drive

Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap • Updated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

31/100

Trail Miles

27.9

State Parks

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles

XC Ski Trails:23 miles

Campgrounds:1

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$106,538

Per Capita Income

$53,919

Median Family Income

$126,314

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$440,100

Median Rent

$965/mo

Homeownership Rate

80.11%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate

1.11%

In Labor Force

4,783

Work From Home

0.69%

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

23.78%

Total with Degree

1,595

🚗Commute

Work From Home

0.69%

👥Demographics

Median Age

47.5 years

Avg Household Size

2.4 people

Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) • Census Data Year: 2022 • Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Hampstead