What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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	Chester
People
Population	16,426Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S.
	Hampton and Chester 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%	14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chester 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%	29.8%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Chester 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%	33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester 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.	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.	$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.	$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#31 of 120 in NH	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	8.7Lowest
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.