Compare towns
Hampton vs Salem vs Hampton Beach
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 homeowners (73.8%).
Salem has the most kids (15.7% under 18).
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 | Salem | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
44,795Highest |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton 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±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Salem | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.