Compare towns
Hampstead vs Ogunquit vs Bedford vs Sandown
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 renters (17.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Sandown has the youngest population (median age 40.8).
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 | Ogunquit | Bedford | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,379Lowest |
23,746Highest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
40.8±3.7Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Sandown 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$135,040±$25k 67% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$483,400±$44kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,893±$721 34% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,801 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandown and Bedford 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Sandown 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Bedford School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.