Compare towns
Kingston vs Exeter vs Newington
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
16,151Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
| Kingston and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Newington 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% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Newington 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 6% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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 | — |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.