Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Stoneham 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%).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% 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 | Stoneham | Hampton | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
23,355Highest |
16,426 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Stoneham 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 53% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above 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% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Stoneham | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Stoneham High | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
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.