Compare towns
Nelson vs Hampton vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Nelson | Hampton | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
10,101Highest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Hampton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| 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 | $99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| North Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and North 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | North Hampton 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.