Compare towns
Kensington vs Hampton vs Plainfield vs Canterbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
16,426Highest |
2,522 |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
| Kensington and Canterbury 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Shaker Regional 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.