Compare towns
North Hampton vs Kennebunk vs Hampstead
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 the highest household income ($146k).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Kennebunk | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
11,820Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead 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% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Kennebunk 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. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hampstead 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. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| North Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 173% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampstead and Kennebunk 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | RSU 21 | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.