Compare towns
Strafford vs Waitsfield vs North 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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 | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,918 |
4,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest 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%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Strafford 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. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.