Compare towns
Hampton vs Thornton vs Hampton Beach
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 highest household income ($97k).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
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 | Thornton | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
2,799 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Thornton School District | — |
| High school 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.