Compare towns
East Kingston vs Kensington vs Madbury 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
East Kingston has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | East Kingston | Kensington | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,311 |
2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| East Kingston and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Kensington and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 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 | $9,604 44% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 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 | 14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| East Kingston 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 | — | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | East Kingston School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield 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 | 9 photos → | 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.