What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Sharon	Hampton Beach
People
Population	1,577Lowest	2,605Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S.	60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sharon and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S.	$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S.	$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average	$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S.	$6,115Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	—
High school 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.