Compare towns
Dublin vs Kensington vs Nelson vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Dublin | Kensington | Nelson | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,688 |
2,009Highest |
648Lowest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Dublin and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Dublin and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 22% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Kensington School District | Nelson School District | South Hampton 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 |
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.