What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waltham has the most affordable homes ($330k 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	Waltham
People
Population	2,328Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
	Waltham 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%	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton Falls and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton Falls and Waltham 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.	$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S.	$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waltham 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%	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3% U.S.: 65.2%	86.3% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Falls and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hampton Falls School District	—
High school 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.