Compare towns

Canterbury vs Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs Kensington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($444k median).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Kensington has the youngest population (median age 43.3).

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.

MeasureCanterburyEliotHampton FallsKensington
People
Population
2,353
7,146Highest
2,328
2,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±3.8
25% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
43.3±5.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Hampton Falls and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot 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+
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Canterbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$129,333±$37k
60% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$165,083±$18k
104% 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
$443,700±$21kLowest
33% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$657,700±$47k
98% 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
$2,136±$233Highest
51% above U.S.
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$1,852±$475
31% above U.S.
$1,813±$627Lowest
28% above U.S.
Canterbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,421
138% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,637
209% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
71.7%±48.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7
U.S.: 51.1%
24.4%±38.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Canterbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
21.6%±7.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Falls and Canterbury 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 — #19 of 133 in ME — —
School district Shaker Regional School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Hampton Falls School District Kensington School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet 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.