What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Newbury has the highest household income ($180k).

Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Newbury	Hampstead
People
Population	4,591Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±3Highest 27% above U.S.	45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S.
	West Newbury and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampstead and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampstead and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$179,500±$27kHighest 122% above U.S.	$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$808,200±$47kHighest 143% above U.S.	$521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,675±$674Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S.
	West Newbury and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,240Highest 196% above U.S.	$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	West Newbury and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%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	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	24.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	West Newbury and Hampstead 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	#86 of 282 in MA	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Pentucket	Hampstead School District
High school in town	Pentucket Regional Sr High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	—
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.