Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Thornton 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 the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k 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 | Thornton | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328 |
2,799Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Thornton 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Thornton 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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 |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% 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 |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below 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 |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Thornton School District | 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 |
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.