Compare towns
Kensington vs Lee vs Brentwood 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 most expensive homes ($658k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Lee | Brentwood | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
4,576 |
4,641 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Lowest 22% above NH |
— | $2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brentwood School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.