Compare towns
South Hampton vs Kingston vs Bedford
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).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Kingston | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
6,275 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
| 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%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Bedford 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% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Bedford 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Bedford and 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±$44k 54% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and South Hampton 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 |
$492,900±$58kLowest 22% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| South Hampton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and South Hampton 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 |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #78 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.