Compare towns
Exeter vs Nelson vs Sullivan vs 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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Nelson | Sullivan | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
648Lowest |
687 |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Sullivan 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sullivan 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 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nelson School District | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| 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.