Rockingham County · Seacoast

Hampton

Home to the Casino Ballroom Since 1899 — Where Led Zeppelin Met the Sea

About Hampton

Hampton was one of the four original New Hampshire townships established by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638, settled by English Puritans drawn to the lush salt marshes ideal for raising cattle — marshes that still define the landscape along Route 1. At its peak the town encompassed roughly 100 square miles of the seacoast, eventually splitting off eight separate communities including North Hampton, Hampton Falls, Seabrook, and Kingston. The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, which opened on July 4, 1899, has hosted acts from Duke Ellington and Frank Sinatra to modern headliners, making it one of the longest-running entertainment venues in the country. The boardwalk and Seashell Stage drive a summer tourism economy that swells the population many times over, with the annual sand sculpting competition drawing crowds from across the Northeast. Adventure Bound Camping Resorts provides RV and tent sites with resort amenities just a mile from the beach, offering seasonal camping from May through October for those who want to stay close to the action. The local craft beer scene has taken root with spots like WHYM Craft Pub & Brewery, Throwback Brewery's farm operation that grows their own hops, and Smuttynose Brewing's tasting room adding to the town's appeal beyond the beach attractions. Off-season, Hampton is quieter but far from empty — Planet Fitness operates its 70,000-square-foot world headquarters on Liberty Lane, and the town's tax base benefits from being one of only 18 miles of New Hampshire ocean coastline. The practical appeal is location: ten minutes to Exeter, thirty to Portsmouth, and under an hour to Boston on I-95.

Why Hampton?

Hampton Beach — miles of sandy coastline, boardwalk, and summer events
Home to Planet Fitness world headquarters and Unitil energy company
15 min to Portsmouth, 25 min to Newburyport, 55 min to Boston
Lowest property tax rate on the Seacoast at $16.37 per $1,000

Quick Facts

Population

16,085

County

Rockingham

Region

Seacoast

School District

SAU 90 / SAU 21

Weather in Hampton

46°F

Partly Cloudy

Today

50 / 31

Sun

52 / 37

Mon

53 / 39

Map

Living in Hampton

What you need to know about making Hampton your home.

Major Employers

Planet FitnessUnitilSIAAHampton Beach Casino BallroomFoss ManufacturingTown of HamptonHampton School District

Schools & Education

Hampton operates SAU 90 for grades PK-8 with three schools. High school students attend Winnacunnet High School in SAU 21, a regional school also serving Hampton Falls, North Hampton, and Seabrook.

Cost of Living

Cost of living is above the national average, driven by Seacoast housing prices. Low property tax rate of $16.37 per $1,000 and no state income or sales tax are advantages.

Real Estate

$556,000 median home price

$16.37 per $1,000 property tax rate

No state income or sales tax in NH

View listings in Hampton

Commute Times

55 min

Boston

15 min

Portsmouth

25 min

Newburyport MA

School District

Local district

Hampton School District(SAU 90)

Grades served: K-8

Website

Cooperative high school district

Hampton School District(SAU 21)

Grades served: 9-12

Website

Hampton serves as a district hub for students from nearby towns in this district.

District towns

North Hampton Hampton Falls Seabrook South Hampton

Centre School

PK-2Elementary

Marston School

3-5School

Hampton Academy

6-8Middle School

Winnacunnet High SchoolWarriors

9-12 (SAU 21, regional)High School

Parks & Public Spaces

Hampton BeachBeach

Hampton Beach State ParkState Park

North Hampton State BeachState Park

Hidden Gems in Hampton

Beyond the well-known attractions, Hampton has spots that locals love and visitors rarely find.

Eunice 'Goody' Cole Memorial Stone

year-round

This haunting stone marks the final chapter of New Hampshire's only convicted witch. Eunice Cole was imprisoned for years in Boston before dying in Hampton in 1680. Locals still leave coins here for luck, believing her restless spirit might bring either fortune or trouble. The memorial stands as a somber reminder of colonial fears and superstitions.

Moulton Mansion and Pine Grove Cemetery

year-round

The mansion of General Jonathan Moulton, New Hampshire's own Faust who allegedly sold his soul to the devil for gold-filled boots. When he tried to cheat Satan by cutting holes in the boots, the devil burned down his house. His cenotaph sits in tiny Pine Grove Cemetery on Winnacunnet Road, often decorated with American flags. The mansion still stands, hidden by trees near Drakeside Road.

Pine Grove Cemetery

year-round

New Hampshire's oldest documented public cemetery, dating to 1638. Protected by towering pines, weathered stones tell stories of colonial settlers, Revolutionary War veterans, and early Hampton families like the Dearborns and Moultons. Edward Gove's grave marks a man imprisoned in the Tower of London for rebellion. Wolf stones—large flat boulders—protected bodies from scavenging animals.

Old Landing Road Historical Marker

year-round

This quiet roadway marks where Reverend Stephen Bachiler first stepped ashore in 1638, founding Hampton at 'The Landing.' For 160 years, this was the beating heart of colonial commerce—fishermen hauling nets, salt hay wagons rumbling past, and merchant ships loading cargo. The historical marker feels almost forgotten in Founders Park, but locals know this spot as Hampton's true birthplace.

First Public School Marker

year-round

A modest stone marking an extraordinary achievement—New Hampshire's first public school, opened May 31, 1649. Teacher John Legat welcomed all children 'capable of learning,' both boys and girls, making this a radical experiment in education. The marker sits quietly on the Centre School lawn, overlooked by most visitors but treasured by locals who understand they're standing where American public education began.