Compare towns
Hampton vs Brookline vs North Hampton vs Hampstead
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 most renters (25.5% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k 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 | North Hampton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
5,736 |
4,543Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Hampton and North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Hampstead 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and North 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Hampstead 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 |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Brookline and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Brookline and North 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Hampstead 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Brookline 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Brookline School District | North Hampton School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.