Compare towns
Kensington vs White River Junction vs Exeter vs Plainfield
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 most expensive homes ($658k median).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | White River Junction | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
3,364 |
16,151Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Kensington 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 104% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kensington 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 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 | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school 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 |
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.