Compare towns
Kensington vs Lyme vs South Hampton vs Brentwood
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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Brentwood has the most affordable homes ($528k median).
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 | Lyme | South Hampton | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
1,710 |
984Lowest |
4,641Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Lyme and South Hampton 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Brentwood 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Brentwood 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Brentwood and Kensington 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 |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$528,100±$75kLowest 31% 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 |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and South Hampton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Brentwood 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 | — | — | — | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Lyme School District | South Hampton School District | Brentwood 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 | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.