Compare towns
Exeter vs Dunbarton vs Stratham 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%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Dunbarton | Stratham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,097Lowest |
7,754 |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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 |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Stratham and Dunbarton 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 |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 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.