Compare towns
Kingston vs Windham vs Hooksett 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).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Windham | Hooksett | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
16,038 |
15,057 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Windham High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.