Compare towns

Kingston vs Newfields vs Townsend

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.

MeasureKingstonNewfieldsTownsend
People
Population
6,275
2,023Lowest
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.5±5.7Highest
43% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
13.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Kingston and Townsend 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
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Townsend 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
30% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$492,900±$58k
48% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,393±$156Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
Newfields and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,906
153% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±46.4
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend 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
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
29% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
15.7%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #78 of 120 in NH — #136 of 282 in MA
School district Sanborn Regional School District Newfields School District North Middlesex
High school in town Sanborn Regional High School None in town North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Lowest
—
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.