Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Hanover 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 homeowners (92.9%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
8,479 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Kensington 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Kensington 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Kensington and Hanover 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | — | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #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.