Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Merrimack
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).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
6,275Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Merrimack 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 |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Kingston and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 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 |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.