Compare towns
Hampton vs Nelson vs Salisbury
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 most expensive homes ($550k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
648Lowest |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Salisbury 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%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Salisbury 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$92,469±$7kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$465,900±$31k 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,561Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Nelson 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 History | 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.