What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Orrington has the most affordable homes ($309k 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	North Hampton	Orrington
People
Population	4,543Highest	3,853Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S.	49.5±3.3Lowest 27% above U.S.
	North Hampton and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Hampton and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Hampton and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orrington and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S.	$94,556±$10kLowest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S.	$309,000±$49kLowest 7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,167±$135Lowest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,529Highest 173% above U.S.	$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Hampton and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 120 in NH	#41 of 133 in ME
School district	North Hampton School District	Orrington Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.