What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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	Alton
People
Population	16,426Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH	53.7±3.2Lowest 24% above NH
	Hampton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Alton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hampton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH
	Alton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH	$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94 9% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest about the NH average	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#31 of 120 in NH	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.