Compare towns

Alstead vs Hampton Beach vs South Hampton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).

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.

MeasureAlsteadHampton BeachSouth Hampton
People
Population
1,551
2,605Highest
984Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
56±3.3
29% above NH
60.4±2.4Highest
39% above NH
45.1±5.3Lowest
4% above NH
Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.3%±3.1
NH: 18.2%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.3%±5.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
27.8%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
33.7%±4.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
34%
NH: 40.6%
52.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
2.7%±1.6
NH: 6%
Alstead and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,526±$11kLowest
35% below NH
$82,557±$17k
17% below NH
$152,500±$44kHighest
54% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,600±$37kLowest
33% below NH
$508,900±$76k
26% above NH
$661,100±$45kHighest
64% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,375±$130Lowest
8% below NH
$1,889±$489Highest
27% above NH
South Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,322Lowest
20% below NH
$6,115
8% below NH
$9,109Highest
37% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.1%±22.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±20.2
NH: 48.2%
30%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
8.2%
NH: 7.2%
3.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76%
NH: 72.8%
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
88.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
6 yrs older than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1976Highest
3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
19% above NH
25 minLowest
5% below NH
28 min
6% above NH
Work from home
12.1%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
26.9%±6.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
17%±3.9
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Beach and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District — South Hampton School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.