Compare towns
Kingston vs Auburn vs Brookline vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Auburn | Brookline | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
6,119 |
5,736Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 6% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | 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 | None yet | 59 photos → |
NH 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.