Compare towns
Kingston vs Exeter vs Durham vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,681 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Wolfeboro 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Durham 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±$58k 22% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Durham 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 |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 19% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Exeter High School | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1 |
— | 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.