Compare towns
Exeter vs Seabrook vs Meredith 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%).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Seabrook | Meredith | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,427 |
6,758 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
54±1.9 25% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Seabrook 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 NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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 |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| 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 13% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Exeter and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,785 13% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #114 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Seabrook School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
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.