Outdoor recreation draws second-home buyers to Campton
Campton offers many of the appealing attributes of rural New Hampshire living: natural beauty, winding roads, historic covered bridges and small-town pride. The Grafton County town, set in the scenic foothills of the White Mountains, is home to fewer than 4,000 people and includes several small villages that dot the banks of the Pemigewasset, Mad and Beebe rivers. The lifestyle here is best described as outdoorsy. “There is a lot of hiking. The ski resorts are all within drivable distance,” says Juli Kelley, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty Center Harbor, who lives nearby in Rumney. She adds that Campton is popular with second-home buyers looking for vacation homes: “It tends to be a lot of people from Massachusetts,” she says. Highway access is another draw, making it easier to reach larger towns and shopping areas.
Condos, townhouses and single-family homes surrounded by nature
Dense swaths of forest hug many of Campton’s single-family homes. Some properties sit close together in small subdivisions, while others front two-lane highways or are secluded on several acres off dirt roads. Architectural styles here are diverse, ranging from log cabins to Colonial Revivals and custom contemporary designs. The median price for a single-family home is around $470,000, higher than the national median. Most homes fall between $265,000 and $680,000. However, houses on large parcels of land and luxury homes in sought-after communities such as Waterville Estates can range from about $700,000 to nearly $1.5 million. Townhouses start around $110,000 and can reach up to $385,000. Most condos are in Campton Upper Village and cost between $155,000 and $355,000. With multiple rivers flowing through town, the community has experienced several flooding incidents, most recently in 2023.
Outdoor adventures in the White Mountains
Exploring the great outdoors is a popular pastime here. The Blair Woodlands Natural Area has quiet trails for hiking and cross-country skiing that weave through mature hardwood and coniferous trees. A livelier atmosphere can be found at Livermore Falls State Forest, which offers access to the rushing Pemigewassett River rapids that were once powerful waterfalls used by the milling industry. “Livermore Falls is great,” Kelley says. “I have young kids, and they just jump off the rocks. It does draw a lot of college kids.” Campton Falls is another popular swimming hole. Nearby, Campton Mountain Ski Area appeals to both beginner and well-seasoned skiers for its relaxed atmosphere and short lift lines. The surrounding region offers more adventures, from boating in Squam Lake to rounds of golf on the two public 18-hole courses at Owl’s Nest Resort.
Small businesses thrive in Campton
Mom-and-pop shops are the beating heart of Campton’s commercial sector. “They love to support local businesses and keep them alive. Supporting local is big,” Kelley says. Campton Cupboard offers groceries and prepared meals. Down the road, The Dam Brewhouse pours pints of its latest brews. The menu at Mad River Tavern features an eclectic mix of American and Mexican fare, while seafood is the specialty at The Little Red Schoolhouse. Kelley recommends Mad River Coffee House, a rustic yet vibrant spot for breakfast and live music. A few national retailers and the nearest full-service hospital, Speare Memorial Hospital, are less than 10 miles away in Plymouth .
Students can attend above-average public and private schools
School Administrative Unit No. 48 serves Campton and is not yet rated by Niche. The B-rated Campton Elementary serves kindergarten through eighth grade. Students can move on to Plymouth Regional High, which also gets a B rating and features a career and technical center with seven programs, including Automotive Technology and Outdoor Recreation Leadership. Alternatively, the region offers several private boarding schools, such as the A-plus-rated Holderness School. The public Plymouth State University is about 6 miles south of town and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Two highways, including Interstate 93, link Campton to other towns
Campton is car dependent. Interstate 93 and U.S. Route 3 crisscross as they pass through the center of town, connecting commuters to Plymouth and Lincoln . Manchester is 65 miles away and is the home to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. While the community doesn’t have access to public mass transportation, Transport Central provides non-emergency medical transportation for eligible residents.
