Compare towns
Kensington vs Durham vs Canterbury 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
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Kensington | Durham | Canterbury | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
10,681Highest |
2,353 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Canterbury and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% 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 | $657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% 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 | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
| Canterbury and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | — | Shaker Regional 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 | 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.