Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Waltham 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 the most people working from home (26.9%).
Waltham has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Kingston has the youngest 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 | Hampton Beach | Waltham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
452Lowest |
6,275Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4 55% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Hampton Beach 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% |
12.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kingston and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kingston and Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156Highest about the U.S. average |
| Kingston and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 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%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Waltham 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 | — | — | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.