What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% 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	Winthrop
People
Population	2,605Lowest	6,191Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S.	43.6±5.3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Winthrop 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	$86,470±$4kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Winthrop 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.	$294,800±$41kLowest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$892±$319Lowest 37% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,115Highest 96% above U.S.	$3,506Lowest 12% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.8%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton Beach and Winthrop 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%	12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.1%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Beach and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#12 of 133 in ME
School district	—	Winthrop Public Schools
High school in town	—	Winthrop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
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.