What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).

Waltham has the most kids (12.8% 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	Waltham
People
Population	2,605Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	60.4±2.4Lowest 55% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
	Waltham and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waltham and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waltham 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 about the U.S. average	$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.
	Waltham 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 53% above U.S.	$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,115Highest 96% above U.S.	$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton Beach and Waltham 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%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Beach and Waltham 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.