Compare towns
Kensington vs South Hampton vs Exeter vs Plainfield
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).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | South Hampton | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
984Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| 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 63% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| 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 22% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
| 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 45% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield 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 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.