What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($545k 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	Marblehead	Hampton
People
Population	20,413Highest	10,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±2Lowest 26% above U.S.	51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Hampton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Marblehead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S.	$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.	$545,300±$63kLowest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S.	$1,654±$93Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Marblehead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.	$6,872Lowest 120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marblehead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#47 of 282 in MA	#31 of 120 in NH
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.