Compare towns
Kingston vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Nelson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
648Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
| Exeter 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 22% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 19% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | 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 | 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.