Compare towns
Dayton vs Hampton vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Searsmont has the most affordable homes ($284k 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 | Dayton | Hampton | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313 |
16,426Highest |
1,646Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dayton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,200±$34k 20% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$284,000±$31kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867 14% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872 24% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Dayton 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 | — |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 71 |
| 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 History | 4 photos → | 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.