Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Stratham vs East Kingston
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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
East Kingston has the most homeowners (96.4%).
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 | Stratham | East Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275 |
7,754 |
2,311Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
51.7±8.9 19% above NH |
| Kingston and East 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and East 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
| Stratham and East Kingston 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
| Stratham and East Kingston 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 |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,604 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1994Highest 15 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 |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and East Kingston 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | East Kingston 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 | 9 photos → |
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.