What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).

Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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	Waltham
People
Population	1,145Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
	Waltham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S.	$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S.	$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S.	$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Hampton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S.	$5,714Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waltham 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waltham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.