Compare towns
North Hampton vs Needham vs Hollis
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hollis has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Needham | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.4±5 27% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kLowest 81% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kLowest 102% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48k 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Lowest 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hollis 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Hollis 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | — | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.