What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most renters (28.4% rent).

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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	Hope
People
Population	4,971Highest	1,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±5.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.6±3.1Highest 15% above U.S.
	Hope and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hope and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hope and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S.	$86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Northfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,500±$33kLowest 13% below U.S.	$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$182Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S.
	Hope and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,097Highest 63% above U.S.	$3,842Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hope and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hope 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	#109 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Winnisquam Regional School District	Hope Public Schools
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.