Compare towns
Kingston vs New Ipswich vs Plaistow 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).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Plaistow has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | New Ipswich | Plaistow | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
5,310Lowest |
7,861 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Exeter 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% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 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±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| New Ipswich 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 |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$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 |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Plaistow 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 |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Exeter 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
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.