Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Exeter vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Bethlehem | Exeter | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
16,151Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.