Compare towns
Exeter vs Kensington vs Wells vs Newfields
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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Wells | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,009Lowest |
11,713 |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% 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. |
44.1±1.8 13% 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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±$18k 104% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 37% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Newfields 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.