Compare towns
Kensington vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($444k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Hampton | Canterbury | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
16,426Highest |
2,353 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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 |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below 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 |
$550,200±$39k 37% 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 |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above 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 | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%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 |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Canterbury 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Shaker Regional School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.