Compare towns
Kensington vs Hanover vs Hampton Falls
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 most affordable homes ($658k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
11,685Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kLowest 67% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kLowest 63% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Lowest 22% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Lowest 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.