Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Newfields vs Strafford
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Newfields | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275 |
2,023 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Newfields 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%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 37% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | 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 | 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.