Compare towns
Kingston vs Exeter vs Townsend
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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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 30% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 48% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Townsend 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Exeter High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.