What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

Newburyport has the most people working from home (28.9%).

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	South Hampton	Newburyport
People
Population	984Lowest	18,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±5.3Lowest 16% above U.S.	49.8±2.9Highest 28% above U.S.
	Newburyport and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	19.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Hampton and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newburyport and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S.	$139,625±$21kLowest 73% above U.S.
	South Hampton and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,100±$45kLowest 99% above U.S.	$834,000±$37kHighest 151% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S.	$1,592±$221Lowest 13% above U.S.
	South Hampton and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,109Highest 192% above U.S.	$7,944Lowest 155% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.4%±9.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newburyport and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#56 of 282 in MA
School district	South Hampton School District	Newburyport
High school in town	None in town	Newburyport High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.3
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.