Compare towns
Exeter vs Kensington vs Wells vs Hampstead
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 the most renters (30.9% rent).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Wells | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,009Lowest |
11,713 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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 37% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.