Compare towns

Madbury vs Center Harbor vs Hampton Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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.

MeasureMadburyCenter HarborHampton Falls
People
Population
2,203
955Lowest
2,328Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
37.7±2.1Lowest
13% below NH
60.4±4.8Highest
39% above NH
49.5±7.3
14% above NH
Center Harbor and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
29%±5.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
11.9%±5.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.1%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
Madbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.3%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
39.5%±13.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
25%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
Center Harbor and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.6%
NH: 40.6%
47.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.8
NH: 6%
0.9%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2.1Highest
NH: 6%
Hampton Falls and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$148,365±$30k
50% above NH
$104,313±$16kLowest
5% above NH
$166,157±$14kHighest
68% above NH
Hampton Falls and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$476,900±$31k
18% above NH
$463,800±$74kLowest
15% above NH
$772,600±$76kHighest
92% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,574±$759Lowest
6% above NH
—
$1,852±$475Highest
24% above NH
Hampton Falls and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$4,667Lowest
30% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±15.2
NH: 48.2%
14.3%±59.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
27.2%±22.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton Falls and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91%Highest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
32 minHighest
21% above NH
Work from home
14%±3.6
NH: 16.8%
8.9%±5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.8%±4.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Falls and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Oyster River Coop School District — Hampton Falls School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.