What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).

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	Scarborough	Hampton
People
Population	23,215Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±2.7Lowest 25% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.6%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Scarborough and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,558±$21kHighest 65% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$551,900±$39kHighest 66% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S.
	Scarborough and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S.	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Lowest 92% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	24.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Scarborough and 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	#35 of 133 in ME	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Scarborough Public Schools	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Scarborough High School	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	10.1Lowest
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.