Compare towns
Hampton vs Dorchester vs Seabrook
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 people working from home (21.7%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Seabrook has the most kids (14.8% under 18).
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 | Dorchester | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
410Lowest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
54±1.9Lowest 25% above NH |
| Dorchester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Seabrook and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
— | $84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
| Hampton and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$443,500±$40k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
— | $1,542±$174Lowest 3% above NH |
| Hampton and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,785 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Dorchester 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 | — | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.