Compare towns
Alton vs Hampton vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Hampton has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Alton | Hampton | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
10,101Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Kingston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Alton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Hampton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Kingston 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.