Compare towns
Center Harbor vs South Hampton vs Brentwood
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 oldest population (median age 60.4).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | South Hampton | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
984 |
4,641Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
43.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Brentwood 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Brentwood 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 | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,889±$489Lowest 27% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and South Hampton 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% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and South 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 | — | — | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | South Hampton School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.