Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs North 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
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 | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
16,426Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Hampton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and North 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| North Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
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| 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.