Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Lee vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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 ($550k median).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Lee | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
16,426Highest |
4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% 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 |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hampton 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.