What stands out worked out from the figures below

Great Barrington has the most kids (14.9% 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	Great Barrington	Hampton
People
Population	7,202Lowest	16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±4.2Lowest 28% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
	Hampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Great Barrington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,132±$11kLowest 4% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Hampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$494,300±$61kLowest 49% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
	Hampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,314±$239Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.
	Hampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,935Lowest 90% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Great Barrington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	23.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Great Barrington 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	#139 of 282 in MA	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Berkshire Hills	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Monument Mt Regional High	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.2Lowest	10.1Highest
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.