Compare towns
Kingston vs Hooksett vs Conway 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 most expensive homes ($493k median).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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 | Hooksett | Conway | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
15,057 |
10,141 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55±4.1 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kingston and Conway 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Conway 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5%±3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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 |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Hooksett 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 22% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| 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±$156 7% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Conway 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #76 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Conway School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Kennett High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
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.