Compare towns
Hampstead vs Kingston vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.
| Measure | Hampstead | Kingston | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
6,275 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| Kingston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$492,900±$58kLowest 22% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Kingston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.