Compare towns

Chatham vs Hampton vs Stow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Stow has the most homeowners (96.2%).

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.

MeasureChathamHamptonStow
People
Population
430Lowest
10,101Highest
535
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.3±8.6Lowest
24% above U.S.
51.2±1.7
32% above U.S.
57±10.5Highest
47% above U.S.
Stow and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.5%±10Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
37.9%±17.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stow and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chatham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,042±$19k
18% below U.S.
$97,163±$4kHighest
20% above U.S.
$42,204±$22kLowest
48% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,900±$42k
9% above U.S.
$545,300±$63kHighest
64% above U.S.
$326,400±$42kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,654±$93
17% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,690
18% above U.S.
$6,872Highest
120% above U.S.
$3,304Lowest
6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1998Highest
18 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
35% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
51 minHighest
95% above U.S.
Work from home
7.3%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±12
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton and Stow 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 —
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.