Compare towns
Hampstead vs Portsmouth 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
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Hampstead | Portsmouth | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
22,545Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
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 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Portsmouth 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Hampstead and Portsmouth 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$492,900±$58kLowest 22% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Portsmouth School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
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.