What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most kids (11.5% under 18).

Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).

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	Andover	Hampton Beach
People
Population	616Lowest	2,605Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S.	60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Andover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S.	$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average
	Andover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,900±$68kLowest 15% above U.S.	$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.
	Hampton Beach and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average	$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average
	Andover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S.	$6,115Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Andover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	26.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Andover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.