What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Bucksport has the most kids (17.9% under 18).

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	Bucksport
People
Population	16,426Highest	5,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	42.7±12.2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Hampton and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bucksport 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 U.S.: 17.2%	26.6%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Bucksport 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 U.S.: 35.7%	27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S.	$64,720±$21kLowest 20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.	$252,300±$32kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.	$882±$92Lowest 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$2,021Lowest 35% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.9%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#31 of 120 in NH	#68 of 133 in ME
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	RSU 25
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Bucksport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	13.1Highest
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.