Compare towns
Kensington vs Exeter vs Hampton Falls 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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Hampton Falls | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,328 |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Hampton Falls 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Brentwood 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% 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±$627Lowest 22% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 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 |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.