Compare towns
Exeter vs Meredith vs Mapleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k 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 | Meredith | Mapleton | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,758 |
1,884Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above 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. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 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.