Compare towns
Exeter vs Hingham 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%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Hingham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
24,283Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham 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% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hingham and Exeter 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,906Lowest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Exeter 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hingham | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hingham High | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.