Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs Seabrook Beach
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Seabrook Beach has the most people working from home (39.5%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Eliot | Hampton Falls | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,146 |
2,328 |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
62±3.8Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.1%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$93,571±$43kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$920,900±$75kHighest 177% above U.S. |
| Seabrook Beach and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,725±$575 22% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
39.5%±20Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Hampton Falls 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton Falls School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.