Compare towns
Exeter vs Kensington vs Lee vs South Hampton
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%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Kensington | Lee | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,009 |
4,576 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Exeter and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,813±$627Lowest 22% above NH |
— | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 10 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.