What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k 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	Strafford
People
Population	2,328Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford 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%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Hampton Falls 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%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton Falls and Strafford 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%	53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S.	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Hampton Falls and Strafford 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.	$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford 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%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest 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.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Falls and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hampton Falls School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.