Compare towns
Hampton vs Lancaster vs Hampton Beach
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 highest household income ($95k).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Lancaster | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
3,216 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | White Mountains Regional 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.