Compare towns
South Hampton vs Salisbury 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
Salisbury has the most renters (28.8% 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.
| Measure | South Hampton | Salisbury | Hampton Falls | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
9,281Highest |
2,328 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest 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. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
43.8%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% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Hampton Falls 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. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 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. |
$478,700±$27k 44% 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±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Hampton Falls 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. |
$4,604Lowest 48% 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% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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%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% |
71.2%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. |
1980 same as 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. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Triton | 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.