What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	West Bath	Hampstead
People
Population	1,863Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.	45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S.
	West Bath and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	West Bath and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampstead and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S.	$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Hampstead and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S.	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.
	Hampstead and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,299±$149Highest 8% below U.S.
	Hampstead and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampstead and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampstead and West Bath 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	—	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	West Bath Public Schools	Hampstead School District
High school in town	None 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.