Compare towns
Hampton vs Salem 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
44,795Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above 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. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 120% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Hampton 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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 |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Salem | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.