Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hampton Beach 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
North Hampton has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
2,605 |
4,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Dorchester 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% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and North Hampton 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and North 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.