Compare towns
North Hampton vs Center Harbor vs Hampton
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 most kids (19.2% under 18).
Center Harbor has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
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 | Center Harbor | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543 |
955Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and 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 NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest 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 | $146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| North Hampton and Center Harbor 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 |
$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
— | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% 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 | $8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| 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.