Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Bowdoin vs Alstead
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%).
Bowdoin has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Hampton Beach | Bowdoin | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
3,188Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
44.3±10Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bowdoin and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.