Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Wilder 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Hampstead | Wilder | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,102 |
3,087Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Exeter 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% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%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% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest 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. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | 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 |
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.