Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Sharon vs Alstead
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 the most people working from home (26.9%).
Sharon has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Sharon | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Highest |
442Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
49.4±11.2Lowest 14% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon 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 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.6%±3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Sharon 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 17% below NH |
$113,125±$19kHighest 14% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Sharon 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±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$475,900±$38k 18% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
— |
| Sharon and Hampton Beach 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 |
$8,274Highest 24% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.