What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).

Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

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	Scarborough
People
Population	16,426Lowest	23,215Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	48.8±2.7Lowest 25% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Scarborough 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.	$133,558±$21kHighest 65% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S.	$551,900±$39kHighest 66% above U.S.
	Scarborough and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.	$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$5,978Lowest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Scarborough 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%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Scarborough 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 133 in ME
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Scarborough Public Schools
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Scarborough High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	11.0Highest
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.