Hampton Beach is a coastal tourist town in a central location
With front row seats to the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton Beach is a village district, tourist destination and census-designated place in the town of Hampton. It’s one of the busiest—if not the busiest—beach resorts in New Hampshire, where low-rise hotels, seasonal restaurants and entertainment venues pack the boardwalk on Ocean Boulevard. “Hampton Beach is a major second-home market, and we definitely have a very vibrant tourist community,” says Tom McGuirk, a local broker/owner of McGuirk Properties and a year-round Hampton resident for over two decades. He adds: “While tourists are prominent, there is still a solid, close-knit community of full-time residents who all know each other well.” This coastal community is approximately 15 miles south of Portsmouth and less than an hour’s drive north of Boston without traffic. McGuirk notes that this proximity puts Hampton Beach in a relatively central location for a coastal town.
Sunset walks along Hampton Beach are popular with locals and visitors.
Food vendors line the boardwalk during Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic.
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Condos dominate housing stock in this beachside community
Just over half of the residential properties in Hampton Beach are condos, with single-family homes and townhouses making up the other half. The high number of condominiums is primarily due to the community’s status as a tourist destination. “People looking for second homes and investment properties definitely gravitate towards Hampton Beach,” McGuirk says. “We also attract a lot of retirees and see people moving here from out of state because New Hampshire has some of the most favorable tax codes in the country.” As a result of the rising interest from buyers, the community has seen an increase in new construction projects recently, particularly for condo developments and multifamily properties. “The beach does have its fair share of single-family cottages, but unoccupied ones are sometimes torn down for the condos,” McGuirk says. Condos can cost anywhere from $160,000 to just over $1 million, though they typically stay below $700,000. Townhouses are often between $520,000 and $920,000. Most single-family cottages and New Englanders range from $400,000 to $850,000, with larger waterfront homes frequently selling between $1 million and $2 million.
Hampton Beach condos feature ocean-view balconies and coastal charm.
Cottage-style homes add charm to Hampton Beach neighborhoods.
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Summer brings outdoor recreation on the ocean and the beach
Life in Hampton Beach revolves around the waterfront and the wide, sandy beach stretching the length of the town. Surfing, parasailing and kayaking are popular water sports; free yoga classes, movie nights and sand-sculpting competitions take place on the beach during the summer. The Hampton River Marina offers sunset cruises and whale watching excursions on a seasonal basis. Lobster tours and fishing charters are also available for booking at several marinas. “The water can get a little cold because it comes right from the Gulf of Maine, but the colder water also means the beach stays clean. We don’t get the red tides you see in places like Cape Cod; we take pride in keeping our shores clean,” McGuirk says. Going inland, the community borders the Hampton Salt Marsh, an area known for birdwatching, but which lacks a developed trail system.
Pickleball courts bring active fun to Hampton Beach residents.
Sagamore Golf Club features a putting green and 18-hole course nearby.
Fishing boats dot Hampton Beach’s harbor during summer season.
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Events, dining and entertainment pack the boardwalk on Ocean Blvd
Hampton Beach’s shopping, dining and entertainment amenities sit front and center along the Ocean Boulevard boardwalk, which serves as the town’s lively commercial corridor. During tourist season, McGuirk says that events and community activities occur every night along the boardwalk: “People can go to free concerts and other performances hosted daily at the Seashell Oceanfront Pavilion or watch fireworks every Wednesday night during the summer,” he says. The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival takes place during the weekend following Labor Day and is perhaps the town’s largest annual event, with attendance numbers hovering around 150,000 people.
Alongside the boardwalk’s entertainment venues are rows of storefronts and outdoor dining patios. “You’ve got convenience stores, concessions, boutiques and, of course, ice cream stands all along the boulevard,” McGuirk says. Restaurants range from casual pubs and takeout stands to breakfast cafes and seafood diners. Many places are only open during tourist season and close for the winter. For weekly grocery trips, McGuirk says that Market Basket in Seabrook and Hannaford in Hampton are both within a 15-minute drive of residents. “Hampton also has plenty of your everyday urban amenities. If you need the dry cleaners, if you need Home Depot, you can go to Hampton,” he adds. Big-box stores like Hobby Lobby, Walmart and Kohl’s are in Seabrook.
Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic draws crowds each summer.
Seacoast Spring Craft Show hosts live music and artisan vendors.
Impressions Beachwear sells swimwear and coastal apparel on Ocean Blvd.
Hannaford grocery store is a short drive from Hampton Beach.
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Zoning for Hampton School District SAU 90
Students living in Hampton Beach are zoned for the Hampton School District School Administration Unit 90, which receives an overall A-minus rating from Niche. Hampton Centre School is for prekindergarten through second-grade students and is rated B-minus, while Grades 3 through 5 can attend the A-minus-rated Adeline C. Marston Elementary School. Hampton Academy for sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students is also rated A-minus. For their secondary education, students head to Winnacunnet High School, a B-plus-rated institution in the town of Hampton but outside the SAU 90 district. Incoming and current high school freshmen can participate in the school’s Sea to Summit summer enrichment program, which combines STEM-based academic instruction, local history and socialization over the course of three weeks.
Adeline C. Marston Elementary serves grades 3-5 in Hampton.
Hampton Academy educates middle school students in Hampton.
Winnacunnet High School offers academics and sports for grades 9-12.
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Hampton Beach is well connected via state routes
New Hampshire Route 1A and Route 101 are the two main thoroughfares running through Hampton Beach; Route 1A is coastal and runs north-south beside the boardwalk, while Route 101 connects drivers 3 miles inland to Hampton’s town center. Residents can access Interstate 95 in Seabrook, roughly 8 miles west of the beach. Portsmouth International Airport is 17 miles away and offers limited flights through Allegiant Air and Breeze Airways. The Seabrook Emergency Room at Portsmouth Regional Hospital is open 24 hours and is a 15-minute drive from Hampton Beach.
Written By
Hayley Simms
Photography Contributed By
Alex Jacobsen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kathy Snyder,
an experienced agent in this area.
Welcome to 3 Perkins Avenue, Unit 2 – Hampton Beach Living at Its Best! Nestled just steps from the sand, this spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo offers the perfect combination of comfort, style, and coastal charm. Located in a modern 3-unit building built in 2014, Unit 2 features 1,070 square feet of open-concept living with a well-designed layout ideal for year-round living or an
Welcome to 3 Perkins Avenue, Unit 2 – Hampton Beach Living at Its Best! Nestled just steps from the sand, this spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo offers the perfect combination of comfort, style, and coastal charm. Located in a modern 3-unit building built in 2014, Unit 2 features 1,070 square feet of open-concept living with a well-designed layout ideal for year-round living or an
Discover the best of Hampton Beach living at Pearls on Perkins (3 Perkins Ave). This 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath home offers modern comfort, a 2-car garage, and full Hampton River views and just steps from the sand and boardwalk. Inside, the open-concept main level flows seamlessly from the kitchen with breakfast bar into the dining and living areas, ideal for entertaining or relaxing. Upstairs, the
Just steps from Hampton Beach and all its attractions, this charming 1-bedroom, 1-bath unit offers a cozy and efficient layout with approximately 330 sq. ft. of living space. Enjoy easy access to the ocean, dining, shopping, entertainment, and seasonal events while tucked away on a quiet side street. The unit includes two-car tandem parking—an invaluable perk near the beach. Tenant is responsible
Available off-season at a discounted rate from December 2025 through May 2026. Enjoy this beautiful 5th floor, fully furnished and new 2-bedroom contemporary oceanfront condo at low winter rates at this centrally-located, high-rise condo complex right in the heart of Hampton Beach. Featuring incredible ocean views from the balcony and close proximity to shopping areas, local area hospitals,
Enjoy all that Hampton Beach has to offer from this cute 2-bedroom duplex. This unit has a great beachy feel, with a bright, open kitchen and living room. Year Lease. Off street parking for 2 cars. All utilities are the tenant's responsibility. Pets negotiable. Credit Check and income verification with application required.
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