Compare towns
Kingston vs Center Harbor 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 most expensive homes ($493k median).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Center Harbor | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
955Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Kingston 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% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| 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±$12k 6% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Kingston and Center Harbor 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 |
— | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 19% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | — | 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 → |
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.