Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Kensington vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Hampton | Kensington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,426Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% 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 | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.