Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Beach vs Sandown vs Hooksett
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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Sandown has the highest household income ($135k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Sandown | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,605Lowest |
6,628 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Hampstead 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett 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 |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Hampton Beach 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 | — | #71 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.