What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most kids (12.5% 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	Jefferson
People
Population	2,605Highest	1,013Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH	58±3.5Lowest 34% above NH
	Hampton Beach and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	12.5%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1%	33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.5Highest NH: 6%
	Jefferson 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±$17kHighest 17% below NH	$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH
	Hampton Beach and Jefferson 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	$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH	$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,115Highest 8% below NH	$4,196Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%	16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton Beach and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below NH	35 minHighest 29% above NH
Work from home	26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8%	17.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hampton Beach and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.