Compare towns
Dayton vs North Hampton vs Bowdoin
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%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k 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 | North Hampton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Lowest |
4,543Highest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Bowdoin 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% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dayton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Dayton 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. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
— |
| North 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. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dayton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | North Hampton School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.