Compare towns
Hampton vs Nelson vs Hampton vs Hampstead
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Hampstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Nelson | Hampton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
648Lowest |
10,101 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Hampstead 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% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Hampton 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 4% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Nelson 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 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.