Compare towns
Exeter vs Kensington vs Mont Vernon vs Brentwood
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 most expensive homes ($658k median).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Mont Vernon | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,636 |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Brentwood 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% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington 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±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Exeter 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Brentwood 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 | — | #4 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | Mont Vernon School District | Brentwood 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 | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.