What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($142k 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	Lincoln
People
Population	16,426Highest	4,890Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	52.4±3.4Lowest 35% above U.S.
	Hampton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	32.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lincoln and Hampton 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%	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton and Lincoln 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.	$56,089±$15kLowest 31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.	$141,500±$40kLowest 57% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.	$658±$28Lowest 53% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$1,860Lowest 40% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.3%±34.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lincoln and Hampton 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%	16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#31 of 120 in NH	#94 of 133 in ME
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Mattanawcook Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	11.8Highest
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.