Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Durham vs Wells vs North Hampton
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 Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 Falls | Durham | Wells | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
15,080Highest |
11,713 |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| Wells and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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+ | 54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.