What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Van Etten has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).

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	Van Etten
People
Population	1,145Lowest	1,328Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.1±14.7Highest 8% above NY	41.7±4.1Lowest 5% above NY
	Hampton and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±6.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Van Etten and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hampton and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	23.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±3.1Highest NY: 7%	2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Hampton and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,796±$8kHighest 14% below NY	$61,620±$6kLowest 28% below NY
	Hampton and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,800±$10kHighest 61% below NY	$146,500±$18kLowest 65% below NY
	Hampton and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$375Highest 22% below NY	$1,071±$183Lowest 34% below NY
	Hampton and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,007Lowest 54% below NY	$3,010Highest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±25.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	47.4%±29.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Van Etten and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.5%Highest NY: 14%	12.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	79.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 19% below NY	34 minHighest 4% above NY
Work from home	7.8%±8.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Van Etten and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	SPENCER-VAN ETTEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.