What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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	Springfield
People
Population	16,426Highest	9,084Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton and Springfield 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.	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.	$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.	$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.6%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Springfield 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%	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton and Springfield 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	#64 of 70 in VT
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	14.3Highest
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.