Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Kensington vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Hillsborough | Kensington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.