Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Kensington vs Henniker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Exeter | Kensington | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,151Highest |
2,009Lowest |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.