What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).

North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Stow	North Hampton
People
Population	7,165Highest	4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S.	50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S.
	North Hampton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Hampton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S.	$146,458±$29kLowest 81% above U.S.
	Stow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S.	$670,400±$61kLowest 102% above U.S.
	Stow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S.	$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S.
	North Hampton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$8,529Lowest 173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	25.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stow and North 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	#44 of 282 in MA	#12 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashoba	North Hampton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.