Compare towns
Franconia 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
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Kensington has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
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 | Hampton Falls | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
2,328Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Franconia and Hampton Falls 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% |
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+ | 36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Hampton Falls 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 |
$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 | $530,300±$96kLowest 32% 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 | $1,281±$278Lowest 14% 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 | $7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Hampton Falls 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | 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 | 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.