Compare towns
Kingston vs Exeter vs Conway vs Meredith
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Exeter | Conway | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,141 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
55±4.1 27% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Meredith 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5%±3 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Conway 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 19% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith 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% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.2% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #76 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Conway School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Exeter High School | Kennett High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1 |
11.7 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.