Compare towns
Hampton vs South Hooksett vs Chester vs North Hampton
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 renters (26.2% rent).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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.
| Measure | Hampton | South Hooksett | Chester | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,902 |
5,300 |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Hampton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and North 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
— | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Chester School District | North Hampton 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 | None yet | 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.