Compare towns
Kensington vs Durham vs Sanbornton vs Hampton Falls
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 most homeowners (92.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Sanbornton has the most affordable homes ($452k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Sanbornton | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
15,080Highest |
3,053 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Sanbornton 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$113,750±$41kLowest 15% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% 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 | $657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$452,300±$30kLowest 12% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% 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 | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% 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 | $9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Sanbornton 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Durham 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.