Compare towns
Kensington vs Hampton vs Lee 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Hampton | Lee | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
16,426Highest |
4,576 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lee 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Lee 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 |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Kensington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above 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 | $9,637 45% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Lee 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hampton 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield 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 | 10 photos → | 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.