Compare towns
Kensington vs Lee vs South Hampton 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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Lee | South Hampton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
4,576Highest |
984Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Kensington and South Hampton 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
— | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Kensington 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 | South Hampton School District | Plainfield 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.