Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Bow vs Newfields
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%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Kingston | Bow | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275 |
8,335 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 11% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Newfields and Bow 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 |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Bow 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Bow School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.8 |
— |
| 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.