Compare towns

Kingston vs Townsend vs Newton

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).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Newton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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.

MeasureKingstonTownsendNewton
People
Population
6,275
9,100Highest
4,836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.5±5.7Highest
43% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
47.8±5.7
23% above U.S.
Kingston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Newton 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%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3Lowest
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%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Newton 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.
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
$138,487±$29kHighest
72% above U.S.
Newton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$492,900±$58kHighest
48% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$459,500±$18k
38% above U.S.
Kingston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,393±$156Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$1,683±$96Highest
19% above U.S.
Newton 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.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
$8,124Highest
160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±46.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±41.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newton and Townsend 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%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
29% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
30 minLowest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
15.7%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newton and Kingston 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 #136 of 282 in MA #70 of 120 in NH
School district Sanborn Regional School District North Middlesex Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town Sanborn Regional High School North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Lowest
13.1Highest
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On TownTapestry
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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.