What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Sheldon
People
Population	4,543Highest	2,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sheldon and North Hampton 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%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Hampton and Sheldon 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.	$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S.	$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,529Highest 173% above U.S.	$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Hampton and Sheldon 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%	5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1984 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 120 in NH	—
School district	North Hampton School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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.