What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Brookline	Hampton Beach
People
Population	531Lowest	2,605Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average	$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Beach and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S.	$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average
	Brookline and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S.	$6,115Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton Beach and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Beach and Brookline 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.