Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Woonsocket 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
9,102 |
43,521Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Hampstead 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% 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. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 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% |
18.7%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% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above 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% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 15.2Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.