What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).

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	Rochester
People
Population	16,426Highest	5,837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	46.5±6Lowest 20% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rochester 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.	$120,273±$12kHighest 49% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S.	$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S.
	Rochester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,432±$743Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$6,530Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Rochester 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%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#31 of 120 in NH	#104 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	9.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.