Compare towns
Exeter vs Walpole vs Newfields 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%).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Walpole | Newfields | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
26,388Highest |
2,023Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Newfields 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. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,906Lowest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole and Newfields 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | — | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Newfields School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Walpole High | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.