What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Center Harbor has the most kids (11.9% 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	Center Harbor
People
Population	2,605Highest	955Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.4±2.4 39% above NH	60.4±4.8 39% above NH
Kids under 18	3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	11.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.7%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Center Harbor and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest NH: 40.6%	47.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	0.9%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Center Harbor and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH	$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH
	Center Harbor and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH	$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH
	Hampton Beach and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$130 8% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,115Highest 8% below NH	$4,667Lowest 30% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%	14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton Beach and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below NH	25 minLowest 8% below NH
Work from home	26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8%	8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.