Compare towns
Exeter vs Stratham vs Townsend 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%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Stratham | Townsend | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,754 |
9,100 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Townsend 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Townsend 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. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4% 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% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Middlesex | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.