Compare towns
Hampton vs Bow vs Hampton Beach vs Hampstead
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 most expensive homes ($550k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Bow | Hampton Beach | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
8,335 |
2,605Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 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+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Hampstead 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 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| 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 9% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bow School District | — | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Bow High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.