Compare towns

Hampton vs Keene vs Kittery

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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureHamptonKeeneKittery
People
Population
16,426
22,939Highest
10,473Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Kittery and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9kHighest
18% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
Hampton and Kittery 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.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,716±$224Highest
21% above U.S.
Kittery and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Keene 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
20 min
24% below U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery 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 #81 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Keene School District Kittery Public Schools
High school in town Winnacunnet High School Keene High School Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1
12.3Highest
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.