Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
Bordering Hampton BeachHampton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Salem has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Lowest |
10,101 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Salem and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
| Salem 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 17% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| 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±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.