Compare towns
Franconia vs Canterbury 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
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Canterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Franconia | Canterbury | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
2,353Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Franconia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Kensington and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Shaker Regional 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 | 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.