Compare towns
Merrimac vs Hampton 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
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Merrimac | Hampton | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
16,426Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
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 | 16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 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 | $7,399 137% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pentucket | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
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| 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.