Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Eliot vs Durham vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Hampton Falls | Eliot | Durham | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
7,146 |
15,080Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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+ | 54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18k 104% above U.S. |
| 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 | $772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Durham 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 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.