Compare towns
Hampton vs Needham vs Hampstead
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 oldest population (median age 51.2).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
32,459Highest |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Hampstead 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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 20% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Lowest 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Needham | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.