Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Nelson vs Hampton
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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k 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 | Nelson | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
648Lowest |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$97,163±$4k 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% 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±$130 8% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 8% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.