Compare towns
Exeter vs Kensington vs Standish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
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 | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,009Lowest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Kensington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Kensington 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.