Compare towns
Kensington vs Lee vs Plainfield 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
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Lee | Plainfield | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
4,576Highest |
2,522 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% 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%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 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±$18k 67% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
— | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.