Compare towns
Benson vs Hampton vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most homeowners (80.9%).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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.
| Measure | Benson | Hampton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
16,426Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Benson 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| 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.