Compare towns
Weare vs Kingston vs Hampstead vs Deering
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k 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 | Weare | Kingston | Hampstead | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
6,275 |
9,102 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
48.8±5.7 13% above NH |
| Kingston and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average |
| Weare and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
| Hampstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
| Weare and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,223Lowest 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Hampstead School District | — |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.