Compare towns
Kensington vs Pembroke vs Exeter vs Hampton Falls
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%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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 | Pembroke | Exeter | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
7,438 |
16,151Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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 |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #85 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Pembroke School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.