Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Nelson vs North Hampton vs Hampton
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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | North Hampton | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
648Lowest |
4,543 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and North Hampton 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% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and North Hampton 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±$23k about the NH average |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| North Hampton and Nelson 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| North Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 8% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Nelson School District | North Hampton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| 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.