Compare towns
North Hampton vs Reading vs Hampton 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
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.
| Measure | North Hampton | Reading | Hampton | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
699Lowest |
16,426Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Reading 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Stratham 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±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Stratham 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 173% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.