Compare towns
Washington vs Hampton Beach vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Washington | Hampton Beach | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
2,605Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Lowest 36% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1 39% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chelsea and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.