What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).

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	Gardner	Hampton
People
Population	21,148Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gardner and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.	$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#273 of 282 in MA	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Gardner	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Gardner High	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	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.