What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Grafton has the most affordable homes ($343k 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	Grafton
People
Population	2,328Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S.	59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S.
	Grafton 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%	5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Grafton and Hampton Falls 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.	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S.	$343,200±$85kLowest 3% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,288±$174Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Hampton Falls and Grafton 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.	$4,843Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Grafton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Falls and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hampton Falls School District	Athens Grafton School District
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.