Compare towns
Exeter vs Andover vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
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 | Andover | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
36,652Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Exeter 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 37% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,906Lowest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.