Compare towns
Hampton vs Needham vs Hampton Beach 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
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Kingston has the most affordable homes ($493k median).
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 | Needham | Hampton Beach | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
32,459Highest |
2,605Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% 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 | 14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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 20% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Hampton Beach 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Needham | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
— | 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.