What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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	Hampden	Hampton
People
Population	7,896Lowest	16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Hampden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.
	Hampton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	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.