Compare towns
Exeter vs Durham vs Kingston vs East 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
East Kingston has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Kingston | East Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,080 |
6,275 |
2,311Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
51.7±8.9 19% above NH |
| Kingston and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and East Kingston 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$138,194±$38kHighest 40% above NH |
| East Kingston and Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$575,500±$56kHighest 43% above NH |
| East Kingston and Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,604 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| East Kingston 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Sanborn Regional School District | East Kingston School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.3 |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 51 photos → | None yet | 9 photos → |
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.