Compare towns
Kensington vs Deerfield vs Auburn vs Exeter
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 expensive homes ($658k median).
Deerfield has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Deerfield | Auburn | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
4,932 |
6,119 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Auburn 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% |
20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Kensington and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Kensington and Auburn 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 |
$1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Auburn 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Deerfield 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 | — | #61 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Deerfield School District | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.