What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).

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	Shaftsbury
People
Population	16,426Highest	3,607Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	43±6.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton and Shaftsbury 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.	$86,071±$24kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Hampton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.	$267,300±$24kLowest 20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,015Lowest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.7%±36Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Shaftsbury 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%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#31 of 120 in NH	#62 of 70 in VT
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1	—
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.