Compare towns
Kensington vs Durham vs Exeter vs Brentwood
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
15,080 |
16,151Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Kensington 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood 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±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Brentwood 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 59 photos → | 6 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.