What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

White River Junction has the most kids (17.1% 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	White River Junction
People
Population	2,605Lowest	3,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S.	33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	White River Junction 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 about the U.S. average	$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Hampton Beach and White River Junction 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.	$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Hampton Beach and White River Junction 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.	$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton Beach and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.	15 minLowest 42% below U.S.
Work from home	26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Beach and White River Junction 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

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.