Compare towns
Hampton vs Penobscot vs Hampton Falls
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).
Penobscot has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Penobscot | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,154Lowest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Penobscot 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% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot 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% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton Falls 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±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Penobscot Public Schools | Hampton Falls 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 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.

