What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).

Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).

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 Falls	Ashby
People
Population	2,328Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
	Ashby and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton Falls and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton Falls and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton Falls and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Hampton Falls and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashby and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 22% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Falls and Ashby 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	—	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton Falls School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.