Compare towns
Kensington vs Hollis 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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
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 | Hollis | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
8,603 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Hollis 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% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis 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% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hollis 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% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hollis 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 |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Hollis 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±$47k 63% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Hollis 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 |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% 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 | $9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hollis 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis 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 | — | #8 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.