Compare towns
Kensington vs Somersworth vs Hampton Falls 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%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Somersworth | Hampton Falls | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
12,111 |
2,328 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% 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% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Somersworth 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% 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 |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Somersworth 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | — | #117 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Somersworth School District | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.