Compare towns
Dublin 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
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Dublin | Exeter | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Dublin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14kLowest 6% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72kLowest 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Lowest 11% 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 | $8,165Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dublin 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.