Compare towns
Kingston vs Hampstead vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Kingston | Hampstead | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
9,102 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
| Kingston and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Hampstead and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kLowest 22% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Hampstead 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.