Compare towns
Exeter vs Amherst vs Pelham 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Exeter | Amherst | Pelham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
11,861 |
14,449 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Pelham and Amherst 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 |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
| Exeter and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Pelham School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Pelham High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.