What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).

Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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	Saco
People
Population	4,543Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S.	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Hampton and Saco 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%	18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saco 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.	$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S.	$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,529Highest 173% above U.S.	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saco and North Hampton 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%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 120 in NH	#38 of 133 in ME
School district	North Hampton School District	Saco Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.