Compare towns
Hampton vs New Boston vs Barnstead
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).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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.
| Measure | Hampton | New Boston | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
6,165 |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Barnstead 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% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
44.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and New Boston 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 |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Hampton and New Boston 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 |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Barnstead 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% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | New Boston School District | Barnstead 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 |
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.