Compare towns

South Hampton vs Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs Nelson

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 Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Eliot has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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.

MeasureSouth HamptonEliotHampton FallsNelson
People
Population
984
7,146Highest
2,328
648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-13.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±5.3
16% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
42.3±11.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.3%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
24.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampton Falls and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,500±$44k
89% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$99,792±$23kLowest
24% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,100±$45k
99% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$340,900±$49kLowest
about the U.S. average
Hampton Falls and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,889±$489
34% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,852±$475
31% above U.S.
$1,203±$243Lowest
15% below U.S.
Eliot and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,109
192% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,575
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±68.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
7% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
17%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
31.5%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Nelson and Hampton Falls 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 — #19 of 133 in ME — —
School district South Hampton School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Hampton Falls School District Nelson School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.