Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Beach vs Wells vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,605Lowest |
11,713 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| 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 8% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett 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 177% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.