Compare towns
Hampton vs Kittery vs Bow
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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Kittery | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
10,473 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Kittery 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% 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 | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Bow 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Kittery Public Schools | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Robert W Traip Academy | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.