Compare towns
Kingston vs Epping vs Hooksett 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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Epping | Hooksett | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
7,430 |
15,057 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett 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% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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±$12k 6% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Hooksett 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 22% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| 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±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 19% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Exeter 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Epping High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
| 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.