Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Hanover vs Plymouth 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
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Plymouth | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
11,685Highest |
6,601 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hanover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Hanover 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 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.