Compare towns
Hampstead vs Kingston vs Strafford
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 the most people working from home (21%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Hampstead | Kingston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
6,275 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Hampstead 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 |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford 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±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% 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 | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Kingston 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Strafford 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.