Compare towns
Kensington vs Bethlehem vs Exeter vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Kensington | Bethlehem | Exeter | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,537 |
16,151Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 45% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.