Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Nelson
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 ($550k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
16,426Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Nelson 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson 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 26% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below 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±$130 8% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 8% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.