What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Bath	Hampstead
People
Population	1,097Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±8.6Highest 12% above NH	45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH
	Bath and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2%	21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%	21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bath and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	44.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6%
	Hampstead and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH	$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH	$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH	$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH
	Bath and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Lowest 34% below NH	$8,634Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hampstead and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Bath School District	Hampstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NH 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.