Compare towns
Canterbury vs Durham vs Kensington 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
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Canterbury | Durham | Kensington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,353 |
15,080Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Kensington and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.