Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Northbridge 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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Northbridge | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
16,426 |
16,458Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead 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% |
11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Alstead 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 |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% 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 |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Northbridge | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.