Compare towns

North Hampton vs Kittery vs Hampton Falls vs Stratham

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 most people working from home (25.9%).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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.

MeasureNorth HamptonKitteryHampton FallsStratham
People
Population
4,543
10,473Highest
2,328Lowest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.5±3.3Highest
30% above U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham 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%
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Kittery 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Kittery and Stratham 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
81% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$670,400±$61k
102% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,805±$106
28% above U.S.
$1,716±$224Lowest
21% above U.S.
$1,852±$475
31% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Stratham and Hampton Falls 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.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,781
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
25.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
North Hampton and Stratham 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 #17 of 133 in ME — #43 of 120 in NH
School district North Hampton School District Kittery Public Schools Hampton Falls School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.