Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Beach vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
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 | Hampstead | Hampton Beach | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,605Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Hampstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
| Derry and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9 |
| 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.