Compare towns
Kensington vs Hampstead 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
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Hampstead | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
9,102Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Hampstead and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below 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 | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Hampstead School District | Plainfield 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.