What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).

Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% 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	Stoneham
People
Population	16,426Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham 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.	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Stoneham 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%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoneham 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	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Stoneham
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	10.7Highest
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.