Compare towns
North Hampton vs Wakefield 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 most homeowners (91.3%).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k median).
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 | Wakefield | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
27,793Highest |
16,426 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wakefield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Wakefield 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Wakefield 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.