Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Pepperell 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Kensington has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Pepperell | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328 |
11,663Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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 106% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 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. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% 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±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Hampton Falls 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | North Middlesex | 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 |
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.