Compare towns
Exeter vs Wells River 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 the most people working from home (19.9%).
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k 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 | Wells River | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
340Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells River and Exeter 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$170,800±$103kLowest 49% below 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±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$900±$336Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,154Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wells River 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% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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 | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.