Compare towns
Kensington vs Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Hampton Falls | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
7,146Highest |
2,328 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 104% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| 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 98% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 209% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton Falls School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.