Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Canton 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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Canton | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
24,748Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% 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% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canton and Alstead 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 |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Canton 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 | — | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.