Compare towns
Kensington vs Wilder vs Exeter vs Hampton Falls
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 homeowners (92.9%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Exeter has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Wilder | Exeter | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
3,087 |
16,151Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Exeter 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 104% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| 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 98% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 209% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wilder 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.