Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Jay vs Hampton 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%).
Jay has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Hampton has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Jay | Hampton | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
4,657 |
16,426Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1 43% 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% |
17.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Jay and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 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% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%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% |
4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19k 13% below U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach 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. |
$168,600±$27kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 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 |
$759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 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% |
9.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.