Compare towns
Hampton vs Lancaster vs North Hampton
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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Lancaster | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
3,216Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Hampton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$9k 4% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | White Mountains Regional School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
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| 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.