Compare towns
Kensington vs Durham vs Exeter vs South Hampton
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% 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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
15,080 |
16,151Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% 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 |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Exeter and South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Kensington and South Hampton 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,109 37% 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% |
30%±40.8 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older 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 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | South Hampton 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 → | 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.