Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Conway vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Center Harbor | Conway | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
10,141 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
55±4.1Lowest 27% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Conway and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Conway and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Hampton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #76 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Conway School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Kennett High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.