Compare towns
Hampton vs Ogunquit vs Salem vs North Hampton
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 affordable homes ($473k median).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Ogunquit | Salem | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
1,379Lowest |
30,964Highest |
4,543 |
| 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% |
+5.5% 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. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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% |
26%±4.9 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Ogunquit 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. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hampton 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. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% 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% |
23.5%±21 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest 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% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below 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% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Salem School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.