Compare towns
Hampton vs Bar Harbor vs Hampton Beach
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 ($95k).
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Bar Harbor | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,244 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
49.2±5.9Lowest 26% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bar Harbor and Hampton 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% |
25.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest 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% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach 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. |
$538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Bar Harbor 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. |
$1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Bar Harbor 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 | #2 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Mt Desert Island High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Highest |
8.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.


