Compare towns

Hampton vs Ogunquit vs Salem

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 renters (26.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most kids (16.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureHamptonOgunquitSalem
People
Population
16,426
1,379Lowest
30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1
43% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.6±2.7Lowest
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Salem and Ogunquit 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.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$110,490±$9k
37% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$473,300±$16kLowest
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
—
$1,625±$146Lowest
15% above U.S.
Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813
118% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Salem 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #31 of 120 in NH — #38 of 120 in NH
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District — Salem School District
High school in town Winnacunnet High School — Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
—
11.2Highest
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.