Compare towns
Conway vs Exeter vs Kingston vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Conway | Exeter | Kingston | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,141 |
16,151Highest |
6,275 |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.1 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
| Kingston and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Kingston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087 39% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 23% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Conway School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.1 |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.