Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Dover vs Bridgewater
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%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Dover | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
5,930Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater 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% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$398,600±$65kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Dover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 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. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.