Compare towns
Hampton vs Athol vs Hampton Beach 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 most expensive homes ($550k median).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Athol | Hampton Beach | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
12,011 |
2,605Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Athol-Royalston | — | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Athol High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.