Compare towns
Durham vs East Kingston vs Hampton Falls 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
East Kingston has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | East Kingston | Hampton Falls | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
2,311 |
2,328 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| East Kingston and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston 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+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
| 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 | $498,000±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
— | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,604Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| East Kingston and Hampton Falls 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | East Kingston School District | Hampton Falls School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 9 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.