Compare towns
Kensington vs Hampton vs Plainfield 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Hampton | Plainfield | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
16,426Highest |
2,522 |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above 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 | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.