Compare towns

Hampton Beach vs Acton vs Hampton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Acton has the highest household income ($158k).

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.

MeasureHampton BeachActonHampton
People
Population
2,605Lowest
24,155Highest
10,101
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
44.5±0.8Lowest
14% above U.S.
51.2±1.7
32% above U.S.
Kids under 18
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Acton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,557±$17kLowest
about the U.S. average
$158,230±$14kHighest
96% above U.S.
$97,163±$4k
20% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$508,900±$76kLowest
53% above U.S.
$807,300±$20kHighest
143% above U.S.
$545,300±$63k
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,375±$130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,986±$155Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,654±$93
17% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,115Lowest
96% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,872
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
26.9%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Acton 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 — #13 of 282 in MA #31 of 120 in NH
School district — Acton-Boxborough —
High school in town — Acton-Boxborough Regional High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5
—
On TownTapestry
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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.