Compare towns

Hampton Beach vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most kids (20% under 18).
Kingston has the most homeowners (74.4%).

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.

MeasureHampton BeachWakefieldKingston
People
Population
2,605Lowest
27,793Highest
6,275
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
42.4±1.7Lowest
9% 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%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9Lowest
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%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Wakefield 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
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$105,330±$12k
30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$508,900±$76k
53% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$492,900±$58kLowest
48% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,375±$130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,958±$102Highest
39% above U.S.
$1,393±$156
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,115Lowest
96% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
$7,906Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±46.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton Beach and Kingston 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%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
Work from home
26.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Beach and Wakefield 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 — #179 of 282 in MA #78 of 120 in NH
School district — Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town — Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Sanborn Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
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.