Compare towns
North Hampton vs Bedford vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k 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 | North Hampton | Bedford | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
23,746Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| North Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
| Bedford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
| North Hampton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Bedford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Bedford School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.