Compare towns
Hampton vs Wells vs Canterbury
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 renters (26.2% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
11,713 |
2,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wells 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% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Canterbury 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Hampton 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. |
$443,700±$21kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,421Highest 138% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and Hampton 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Canterbury 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 | Shaker Regional 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.