Compare towns
Whiting vs Hampton vs Athens vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Whiting | Hampton | Athens | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
16,426Highest |
431Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 36% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,438 74% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Athens 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.