Compare towns
Hampton vs Dover 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 has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Dover | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
33,364Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dover School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.