Real Estate Investing in Hampton, New Hampshire (03842)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Rockingham County • Population: 16,180 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 03842 (Hampton, NH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 23.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Hampton, NH (03842)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $635,413
Avg Monthly Rent $2,554
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $92,745
% Renters 24.2%

Market Analysis: 03842 Hampton

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 03842 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $635K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

For an experienced owner, 03842 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $635K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within NH, ZIP 03842 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Rockingham County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 03842 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategy in 03842 is an operator game, not a passive one. From a cash-flow lens, entry prices of $635K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Hampton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,554/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 03842

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$196,281/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $270,188 $1,830 4.9% +8.8% $270,188
2BR $501,968 $2,390 3.4% +8.3% $250,984
3BR $673,010 $2,930 3.1% +8.2% $224,337
4BR $862,882 $3,200 2.7% +9.0% $215,721
5BR $981,405 +9.7% $196,281

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$670K$579K$489K$399K$308K$218KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,712$2,514$2,315$2,117$1,918$1,720Mar 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 03842 Compare?

Metric 03842 Hampton New Hampshire
Home Value $635,413 $635,413 $496,656
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% 9.6%
Avg Rent $2,554 $2,554 -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 03842? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 03842 (Hampton, NH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $635,413
Monthly Rent $2,554
Price-to-Rent 20.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +16.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
23.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 03842

Population: 16,180

💰 Median Household Income
$92,745
This area
$92,745
State
$93,430
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.2%
This area
24.2%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-6.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.2%
This area
43.2%
State
29.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.7 years
This area
53.7 years
State
34.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
23.9%
This area
23.9%
State
22.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.4%
Other/Mixed 2.5%
Asian 0.9%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
14.3%
This area
14.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
27.4%
This area
27.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 03842

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
10.1:1 Avg Class Size
$26,151 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Adeline C. Marston School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,268 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Hampton Academy

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
8.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,268 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Hampton Centre School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
293 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$26,268 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Winnacunnet High School

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
1,055 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$25,798 Per Student

Nearby Schools (2 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

North Hampton School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 201 Atlantic Ave., North Hampton
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$30,804 Per Student
A Very Good

Lincoln Akerman School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 8 Exeter Rd., Hampton Falls
👥
185 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$37,995 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 1,202 Off-Campus Students
C
Great Bay Community College
1,440 students · 9.4 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Portsmouth
61 students · 10.2 mi
B
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
13,626 students · 14.4 mi
C
Northern Essex Community College
4,510 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,202 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does house hacking work in Hampton, NH?

Hampton, NH offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $2,554/mo rent level.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Hampton, NH?

Vacancy in Hampton, NH is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $2,554/mo.

Is the tenant base reliable in Hampton, NH?

The tenant pool in Hampton, NH is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $2,554/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Where do rents currently stand in Hampton, NH?

Average rent in Hampton, NH is approximately $2,554/mo per month. Against $635K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Is Hampton, NH good for landlords?

NH ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Hampton generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

You know 03842 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 03842 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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