What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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	Lancaster
People
Population	2,605Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
Kids under 18	3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hampton Beach and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%
	Lancaster 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	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
	Hampton Beach and Lancaster 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	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Hampton Beach and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,115Highest 8% below NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton Beach and Lancaster 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%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below NH	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	—	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.