Compare towns
South Hampton vs Dover vs East Kingston vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
East Kingston has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | South Hampton | Dover | East Kingston | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
33,364Highest |
2,311 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| East Kingston and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| South Hampton and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| South Hampton and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
— | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| South Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,604Highest 44% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and East 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Dover School District | East Kingston School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 9 photos → | 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.