Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Center Harbor 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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Madbury | Center Harbor | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
2,203 |
955Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor 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% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Kensington 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 |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% 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 |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Kensington 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% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Kensington 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 |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school 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 | 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.