What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Dalton	Hampton
People
Population	6,256Lowest	16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
	Hampton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Hampton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Central Berkshire	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.