Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Needham vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Kingston has the most affordable homes ($493k 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 | Hampton Beach | Needham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Hampton Beach 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Needham | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.