Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Ogunquit vs Townsend
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 the most renters (30.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Ogunquit | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275 |
1,379Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% 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% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ogunquit 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±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Townsend 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.