Compare towns
Auburn vs Exeter vs Kingston vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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.
| Measure | Auburn | Exeter | Kingston | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
16,151Highest |
6,275 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Kingston and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
— |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Exeter 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.