Compare towns
Kensington vs Lebanon vs Mont Vernon vs Plymouth
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 expensive homes ($658k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Lebanon | Mont Vernon | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
14,999Highest |
2,636 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Kensington 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Kensington 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% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
| Kensington and Lebanon 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lebanon 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Lebanon 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Lebanon School District | Mont Vernon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.