Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hampstead vs Hampton Falls 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Dorchester | Hampstead | Hampton Falls | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
9,102 |
2,328 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hampstead School District | Hampton Falls School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.