What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Canton	Hampton
People
Population	24,748Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Canton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S.	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canton 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	#81 of 282 in MA	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Canton High	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	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.