Compare towns
North Hampton vs Swampscott 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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Swampscott | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
15,277Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Swampscott 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% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Stratham 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% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swampscott 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. |
$134,386±$23kLowest 66% 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±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
| Swampscott 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 28% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143 63% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Swampscott 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. |
$7,936Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Swampscott 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% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Swampscott and North 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Swampscott | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Swampscott High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 10 photos → | 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.