What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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	Hampstead	Saco
People
Population	9,102Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S.	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampstead and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saco and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S.	$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.	$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,299±$149Highest 8% below U.S.	$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S.
	Hampstead and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saco and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampstead and Saco 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	#49 of 120 in NH	#38 of 133 in ME
School district	Hampstead School District	Saco Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.