What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amesbury	Hampton
People
Population	17,403Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amesbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
	Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 136% above U.S.	$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton and Amesbury 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	#151 of 282 in MA	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.