Compare towns
Kensington vs Salisbury 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 highest household income ($165k).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Salisbury | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009 |
1,609Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Salisbury 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% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Kensington 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% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury 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% |
37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2%±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 |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Lowest 22% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Merrimack Valley 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 | 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.