Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Stratham vs Newmarket
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).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275Lowest |
7,754 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 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%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% 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% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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±$12k 6% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,734 31% 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% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 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 |
28 min 6% 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% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #39 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 | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.