Compare towns
Exeter vs Lincoln vs Ripton vs Kingston
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 kids (17% under 18).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Lincoln | Ripton | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,394 |
508Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Lincoln 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% |
22.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Exeter 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. |
$365,200±$30kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above 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. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | $1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,100 96% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ripton 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Lincoln 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 | Lincoln Town School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| 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.