Compare towns
Kingston vs Mapleton vs South Hooksett vs Meredith
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 most expensive homes ($493k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Mapleton | South Hooksett | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
1,884Lowest |
5,902 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Kingston 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$433,200±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,801 118% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.