Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Ware
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest 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% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ware 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 37% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 31% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Exeter 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.