Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Hampton has the highest household income ($95k).
Wells has the most kids (18% 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 | Bridgewater | Hampton Beach | Hampton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,605 |
16,426Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% 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 | $1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,215 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 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 | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.