Compare towns
North Hampton vs Merrimack vs Hampton Falls
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 people working from home (25.9%).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Merrimack | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543 |
28,164Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and North Hampton 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Merrimack and Hampton Falls 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 |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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±$61k 67% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| 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±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 28% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Merrimack and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Merrimack School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.