Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 49.5).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Kensington has the most affordable homes ($658k median).
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 | Needham | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328 |
32,459Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kLowest 104% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kLowest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Needham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,637Lowest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | — | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.