Compare towns
Strafford vs Waitsfield vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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.
| Measure | Strafford | Waitsfield | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,918 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Waitsfield 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 | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.