What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has the most kids (17.1% under 18).

Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k 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	White River Junction	Hampton Beach
People
Population	3,364Highest	2,605Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S.	60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	White River Junction and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S.	$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Beach and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S.	$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Beach and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S.	$6,115Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton Beach and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 42% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Beach and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.