What stands out worked out from the figures below

Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

Hampton has the most expensive 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	Effingham	Hampton
People
Population	1,912Lowest	16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH	55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH
	Hampton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%	11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	42.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH	$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH
	Hampton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH	$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH	$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 23% below NH	$6,813Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 18% above NH	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	16.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hampton and Effingham 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	—	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	None in town	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.1
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.