What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k 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	Jay
People
Population	2,328Lowest	4,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Falls and Jay 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%	17.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton Falls and Jay 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%	19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton Falls and Jay 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%	29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jay 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.	$70,238±$19kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S.	$168,600±$27kLowest 49% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S.	$759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1%	27.2%±28.8 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#86 of 133 in ME
School district	Hampton Falls School District	RSU 73
High school in town	None in town	Spruce Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.7
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.