Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Kittery vs Mapleton
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%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Kittery | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275 |
10,473 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kingston 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. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Kingston and Kittery 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. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.