Compare towns
Hampton vs Kennebunk vs Dover vs North Hampton
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).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Kennebunk | Dover | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
11,820 |
33,364Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Kennebunk 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% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Kennebunk 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% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Dover 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and North 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 21 | Dover School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Kennebunk High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.6 |
12.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.