Compare towns

Hampton vs Needham vs Hampton Falls vs Hampstead

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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hampton Falls has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k median).

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.

MeasureHamptonNeedhamHampton FallsHampstead
People
Population
16,426
32,459Highest
2,328Lowest
9,102
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
Hampton and Hampton Falls 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%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton and Hampton Falls 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%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9kLowest
18% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$166,157±$14k
106% above U.S.
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$772,600±$76k
132% above U.S.
$521,100±$45kLowest
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,852±$475
31% above U.S.
$1,299±$149Lowest
8% below U.S.
Needham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Lowest
118% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #31 of 120 in NH #19 of 282 in MA — #49 of 120 in NH
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District — Hampton Falls School District Hampstead 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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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.