Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Acton vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering Hampton BeachHampton
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.
| Measure | Hampton Beach | Acton | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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 | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.


