Compare towns

Hampton vs Salisbury vs Bridgewater

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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($399k median).

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.

MeasureHamptonSalisburyBridgewater
People
Population
16,426Highest
5,656
1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+15.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1
43% above U.S.
51±6.9Lowest
31% above U.S.
58.3±6.3Highest
50% above U.S.
Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury and Hampton 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%
29.1%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bridgewater 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%
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Salisbury 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±$9kHighest
18% above U.S.
$92,469±$7k
15% above U.S.
$82,361±$9kLowest
about the U.S. average
Hampton and Salisbury 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.
$465,900±$31k
40% above U.S.
$398,600±$65kLowest
20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,770±$444Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,125±$201Lowest
20% below U.S.
Salisbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,561
46% above U.S.
$2,823Lowest
9% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4
U.S.: 51.1%
59.8%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.1%±13.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salisbury 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%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
13% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.7%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton and Salisbury 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 #240 of 282 in MA —
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District — Newfound Area School District
High school in town Winnacunnet High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.