Compare towns
Hampton vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
648Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Kingston and Hampton 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 |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
| Kingston and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 3% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Hampton 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 | — | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.