Compare towns
Barnstead vs Exeter vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Barnstead | Exeter | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest 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+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Barnstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.