Compare towns
Exeter vs Kensington vs Westminster
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).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Kensington 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Exeter 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% |
46.3%Lowest 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% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Westminster 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. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% 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% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% 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 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.