Compare towns
Derry vs Hampstead 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
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Derry | Hampstead | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,102 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Hampstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Derry and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
| 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.