Compare towns

Hampton vs Hampton vs Salem

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 has the highest household income ($97k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

MeasureHamptonHamptonSalem
People
Population
10,101Lowest
16,426
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.2±1.7
32% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Salem and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton 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%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,163±$4kHighest
20% above U.S.
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$85,153±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
Hampton and 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
64% above U.S.
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$542,800±$18kLowest
63% above U.S.
Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,654±$93
17% above U.S.
$1,628±$94Lowest
15% above U.S.
$1,836±$84Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,872Highest
120% above U.S.
$6,813
118% above U.S.
$6,114Lowest
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±4.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton and Salem 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 #31 of 120 in NH #248 of 282 in MA
School district — Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Salem
High school in town — Winnacunnet High School Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1Highest
9.8Lowest
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.