What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).

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	Stow
People
Population	4,543Lowest	7,165Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S.	44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S.
	North Hampton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stow 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%	19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Hampton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stow 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±$29kLowest 81% above U.S.	$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S.
	Stow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$670,400±$61kLowest 102% above U.S.	$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S.
	Stow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S.
	North Hampton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,529Lowest 173% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stow 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%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stow and North Hampton 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	#44 of 282 in MA
School district	North Hampton School District	Nashoba
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.