Compare towns
Kingston vs Ashby vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Kingston | Ashby | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
3,211Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 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+ | 35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest 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 | $105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% 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 | $1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 153% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest 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 | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Ashby 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.


