What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).

South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k 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	South Hadley
People
Population	16,426Lowest	17,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	42.6±2.6Lowest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Hadley and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	18.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S.	$93,910±$15kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Hampton and South Hadley 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.	$357,900±$19kLowest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,325±$54Lowest 6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$5,500Lowest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.7%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and South Hadley 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%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton and South Hadley 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	#216 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	South Hadley
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	South Hadley High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	8.6Lowest
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.