Compare towns
Hampton vs Wells 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 people working from home (21.7%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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.
| Measure | Hampton | Wells | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
11,713 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% 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% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Wells 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% |
43.3%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% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Wells 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. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$398,600±$65kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Wells 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. |
$3,215 3% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.