Compare towns
Hampton vs Hardwick vs Ware 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 has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Hardwick | Ware | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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 20% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 120% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Kingston 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Ware | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.