Compare towns
Kingston vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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 | Dover | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
5,930Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%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 min 29% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #78 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.