Compare towns
Kingston vs Sandown vs Exeter vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandown has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Sandown | Exeter | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
6,628 |
16,151Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Exeter 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sandown 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 |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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 |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Sandown and Exeter 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 |
$8,801 32% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Wolfeboro 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.