Compare towns
Kensington vs Durham vs Cornish 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 highest household income ($165k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Cornish | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
15,080 |
1,816Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Cornish and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Exeter 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Exeter 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Kensington 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Cornish School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.