Compare towns
Hampton vs Acton vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the highest household income ($158k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Acton | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
24,155Highest |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest 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+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.