What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).

Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

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	Northborough
People
Population	16,426Highest	15,750Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	45±3Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northborough 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±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.	$153,199±$19kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S.	$620,000±$24kHighest 86% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.	$1,919±$269Highest 36% above U.S.
	Northborough and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S.	$7,983Highest 156% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.1%±16.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest 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 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northborough and Hampton 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	#35 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	10.8Highest
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.