Compare towns
South Hampton vs Rockport 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 the highest household income ($153k).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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.
| Measure | South Hampton | Rockport | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984 |
3,675Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rockport and South Hampton 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% |
20.9%±5.2Lowest 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% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Rockport 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% |
51.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockport 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±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$5,764 85% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockport 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% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #8 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Camden Hills Regional H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.