Compare towns

Hampton vs Newfields vs Needham

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).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

MeasureHamptonNewfieldsNeedham
People
Population
16,426
2,023Lowest
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Needham 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.
$197,885±$15k
145% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Needham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39kLowest
65% above U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94Lowest
15% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
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.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #31 of 120 in NH — #19 of 282 in MA
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Newfields School District Needham
High school in town Winnacunnet High School None in town Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
—
11.9Highest
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.