Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs North Hampton vs Plainfield
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%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | North Hampton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
4,543Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and North 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% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| North Hampton and Plainfield 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| North Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Plainfield 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and North 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | North Hampton School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.