Compare towns
Kensington vs Mapleton vs Exeter vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | Exeter | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
1,884 |
16,151Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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 104% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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 28% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.