Compare towns
Derry vs Hampstead vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Derry | Hampstead | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,102 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.