Compare towns
South Berwick vs Hampton vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | South Berwick | Hampton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
10,101Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.