Compare towns
North Hampton vs Brewer vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Brewer | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543 |
9,652Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Bath and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath 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+ | 54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and West Bath 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Brewer Public Schools | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| 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.