Compare towns
Hampton vs Canton 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
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
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 | Canton | Hampton Beach | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
24,748Highest |
2,605Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% 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. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% 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% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton 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% |
18.8%±2Lowest 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% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Canton 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. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$6,115Lowest 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% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 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 |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Canton High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.