Compare towns
Hampton vs Plainfield vs Lee vs Hampton Beach
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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Plainfield | Lee | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,576 |
2,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
— | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
| Plainfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hampton Beach 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.