Compare towns
North Hampton vs Wells vs Hampton Beach
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
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 | Wells | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543 |
11,713Highest |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Wells 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% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and North 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. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.