What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k 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	Ryegate	Hampton
People
Population	1,059Lowest	1,145Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.	43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S.
	Hampton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ryegate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ryegate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.	$73,796±$8kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Hampton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,300±$32kHighest 34% below U.S.	$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S.	$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S.
	Hampton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,472Highest 11% above U.S.	$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ryegate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	8.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ryegate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.