Compare towns
Hampton vs Sterling vs North Hampton
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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Sterling | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
3,629Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%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% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sterling 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±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Sterling 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Sterling 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 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.