Compare towns
Hampton vs Brookline vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k 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 | Brookline | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
5,736 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Hampton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| Hampton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Brookline and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Brookline School District | Dunbarton 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.