Compare towns

Durham vs Hampton vs Topsham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 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.

MeasureDurhamHamptonTopsham
People
Population
4,262Lowest
16,426Highest
9,706
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
44.7±4
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
50%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,181±$5kHighest
23% above U.S.
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$91,028±$10kLowest
13% above U.S.
Durham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$322,200±$34kLowest
3% below U.S.
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$360,800±$20k
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,355±$642Lowest
4% below U.S.
Hampton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,781Lowest
21% above U.S.
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,259
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton and Durham 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 #14 of 133 in ME #31 of 120 in NH #66 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town None in town Winnacunnet High School Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1Lowest
12.2Highest
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.