Compare towns
Kingston vs Jackson vs Alstead 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
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Exeter has the most kids (17% 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 | Jackson | Alstead | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
897Lowest |
1,551 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
| Jackson and Alstead 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% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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 |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,750±$1k 17% above NH |
— | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Jackson 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 |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Jackson School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.