Compare towns
Acton vs Hampton Beach vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampton has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Acton | Hampton Beach | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
2,605Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| 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.