What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k 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	Cheshire
People
Population	16,426Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	53.7±4.5Lowest 38% above U.S.
	Hampton and Cheshire 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%	15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Cheshire 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%	30.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Cheshire 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%	26.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cheshire and Hampton 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.	$69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.	$268,200±$48kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94 15% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#31 of 120 in NH	#274 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Hoosac Valley Regional
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Hoosac Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	10.5Highest
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.