Compare towns
Exeter vs Gorham vs Bow 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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Gorham | Bow | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
18,300Highest |
8,335 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%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% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Bow and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Gorham 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. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gorham Public Schools | Bow School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Gorham High School | Bow High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.8 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.