What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k 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	Burlington	Hampton
People
Population	26,274Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.2Lowest 18% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Burlington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S.	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,165Lowest 98% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Burlington and Hampton 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	#83 of 282 in MA	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Burlington	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Burlington High	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	10.1Lowest
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.