What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k 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	Strafford
People
Population	4,543Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3.3Lowest 30% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford and North Hampton 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%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford 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%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Hampton and Strafford 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%	53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
	North Hampton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S.	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	North Hampton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,529Highest 173% above U.S.	$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford 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%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Hampton and Strafford 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	—
School district	North Hampton School District	Strafford School District
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.