Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Lenox 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%).
Hampton has the most kids (14.6% under 18).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Hampton | Lenox | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
10,101Highest |
5,079 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3 54% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Lenox 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% |
14.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lenox and Hampton Beach 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7%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% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lenox 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±$17k about the U.S. average |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Lenox and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$466,700±$43k 40% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,299Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Lenox | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.