Compare towns

Dorchester vs North Hampton vs Seabrook Beach

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).
North Hampton has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Seabrook Beach has the most people working from home (39.5%).

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.

MeasureDorchesterNorth HamptonSeabrook Beach
People
Population
410Lowest
4,543Highest
1,001
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
56±10.5
29% above NH
50.5±3.3Lowest
17% above NH
62±3.8Highest
43% above NH
Seabrook 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%
19.2%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
5.2%±3.1Lowest
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%±15.5
NH: 20.1%
26%±4.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
42.1%±7.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
Seabrook Beach and Dorchester 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%
54.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±3.1Lowest
NH: 6%
2.5%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
2.2%±3.2
NH: 6%
North Hampton and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian —
$146,458±$29kHighest
48% above NH
$93,571±$43kLowest
6% below NH
North Hampton and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$139,600±$133kLowest
65% below NH
$670,400±$61k
67% above NH
$920,900±$75kHighest
129% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,805±$106Highest
21% above NH
$1,725±$575Lowest
16% above NH
North Hampton and Seabrook Beach 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
$8,529
28% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21
NH: 48.2%
90.5%±100Highest
NH: 48.2%
Seabrook 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%
2.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91.3%
NH: 72.8%
74.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
6 yrs older than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1966Lowest
13 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
50% above NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
33 min
22% above NH
Work from home
12.2%±8.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
25.9%±6.9
NH: 16.8%
39.5%±20Highest
NH: 16.8%
Seabrook 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.