What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).

Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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	Hartford	Hampton
People
Population	10,736Lowest	16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hartford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.	$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 70 in VT	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Hartford School District	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	10.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.