Compare towns
Franconia vs Seabrook 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).
Seabrook has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Seabrook | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
8,427Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
54±1.9 25% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Franconia and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Franconia 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% |
31.5%±5 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 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 |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Seabrook 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 |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Franconia 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 | — | #114 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Seabrook 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.