Compare towns
Exeter vs Townsend vs Mason 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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Townsend | Mason | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,100 |
1,451Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Mason 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% 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±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex | Mason School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | 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.