Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Upton vs Alstead vs Whitefield
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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Upton | Alstead | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
8,189Highest |
1,551Lowest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6 32% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Whitefield 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$63,125±$12kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$240,400±$22kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Upton 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±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,077±$160 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
$4,394Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Fall Mountain Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.