Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Dunbarton
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).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Kingston and Dunbarton 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% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton 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 |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Kingston and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton 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% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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 | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.