Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton Beach 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
Chester has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.
| Measure | Chester | Hampton Beach | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
2,605Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$508,900±$76kLowest 26% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Chester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.