What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).

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	Hampton Beach	Brookline
People
Population	2,605Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S.	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average	$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Beach and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.	$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S.
	Brookline and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,115Highest 96% above U.S.	$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton Beach and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Beach and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.