Compare towns
East Kingston vs Exeter vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Kingston has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | East Kingston | Exeter | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,311Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| East Kingston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| East 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+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
| Hanover and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604 44% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and East 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | East Kingston School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 9 photos → | 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.