What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Northfield	Hampton
People
Population	2,872Lowest	16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Lowest 26% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Northfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Northfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Pioneer Valley	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	10.1Lowest
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.