Compare towns
Center Harbor 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
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Center Harbor | Kensington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,009 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.