Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Hanover 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%).
Hampton Falls has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hampton Falls | Hanover | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,328Lowest |
11,685 |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Hanover High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
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.