Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Nelson
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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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 11% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 13% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Kingston and Exeter 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Nelson 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 |
— |
| 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.