Compare towns
Hampton vs Kennebunk vs Kingston vs Hampton Beach
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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Kennebunk has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Kennebunk | Kingston | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
11,820 |
6,275 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Lowest 40% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest 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+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #78 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 21 | Sanborn Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Kennebunk High School | Sanborn Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.6 |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.