Compare towns
Kingston vs Middlesex vs Exeter 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).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Middlesex | Exeter | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
1,943Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Exeter 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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 30% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% 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 |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 153% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Meredith 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.