What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most kids (12.5% under 18).

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Jefferson	Hampton Beach
People
Population	1,013Lowest	2,605Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58±3.5Lowest 34% above NH	60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH
	Hampton Beach and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2%	3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1%	33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	34%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Jefferson and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH	$82,557±$17kHighest 17% below NH
	Hampton Beach and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH	$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH	$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Lowest 37% below NH	$6,115Highest 8% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton Beach and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 29% above NH	25 minLowest 5% below NH
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hampton Beach and Jefferson 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

NH 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.