Compare towns
Hancock vs Kensington vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Kensington has the most people working from home (19.2%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Hancock | Kensington | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
2,009Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Hancock and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hancock and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Kensington School District | South Hampton 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.