Compare towns
Hampton vs North Hampton vs Bedford
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 most renters (26.2% rent).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | North Hampton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
4,543Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
| Hampton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and North 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Bedford 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 |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| North Hampton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and North 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.