Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Lee vs Wolfeboro
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%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Lee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275 |
4,576Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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%±6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lee 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±$12k 6% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Lee 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±$58k 22% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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 |
— | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Wolfeboro 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.