Compare towns
Exeter vs Bow vs North Hampton 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%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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 | Bow | North Hampton | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,335 |
4,543Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and North Hampton 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Kingston 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% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Bow 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Bow and North Hampton 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 |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below 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 | $8,814 32% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District | North Hampton School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Bow High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
— | 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.