Compare towns
Dresden vs Hampton Beach vs Harrison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dresden has the most kids (17% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Harrison has the most homeowners (90.1%).
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 | Dresden | Hampton Beach | Harrison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
2,605Highest |
2,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Lowest 42% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
56±3.6 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
9.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dresden and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$56,938±$6kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,100±$29kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$249,300±$70k 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 15% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$885±$193Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,731 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 02 | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.