Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Franconia 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%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Franconia has the most affordable homes ($530k median).
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 | Hampton Falls | Lyme | Franconia | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328Highest |
1,710 |
1,060Lowest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% 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 | 19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 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 | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below 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 | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$530,300±$96kLowest 32% 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 | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 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 |
21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.