Compare towns
Hampton vs Amherst 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
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Hampton | Amherst | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
11,861Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
45.9±3.5Lowest 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Amherst and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$492,900±$58kLowest 22% above NH |
| Hampton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hampton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Souhegan Coop High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
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.