Compare towns
North Hampton vs Salem vs Hampton
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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Salem | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
44,795Highest |
16,426 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Salem | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.1Highest |
| 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.