Compare towns
Kingston vs Hampstead vs Epping 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).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Hampstead | Epping | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
9,102 |
7,430 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Epping 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% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 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% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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 |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Kingston 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 |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% 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 |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Epping School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Epping High School | 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.