Compare towns
Kingston vs Dover vs Meredith
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 most renters (25.6% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Meredith has the shortest commute (26 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 | Dover | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
5,930Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 30% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dover and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Meredith 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.