Compare towns
Exeter vs Kensington vs Nelson vs Kingston
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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Nelson | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,009 |
648Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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 |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% 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 | $8,814 32% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | Nelson School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| 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.