Compare towns
Hampton vs Dover 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 most expensive homes ($545k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Dover | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
33,364Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below 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% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Dover 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±$4k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
| Kingston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Hampton and Kingston 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 |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hampton and Dover 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Dover 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
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.