Compare towns
East Kingston vs Exeter vs North Hampton
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%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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 | East Kingston | Exeter | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,311Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| East Kingston and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Exeter 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%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and North Hampton 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| North Hampton and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
| Exeter and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604Highest 44% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | East Kingston School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| 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.