Compare towns
Kensington vs Lyme vs South Hampton vs Mont Vernon
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).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Mont Vernon has the most affordable homes ($526k 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 | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
1,710 |
984Lowest |
2,636Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
42.9±2.8Lowest 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% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Mont Vernon 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%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% 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% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon 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±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above 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±$47k 63% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$526,300±$39kLowest 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±$130 5% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% 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% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Mont Vernon 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 | — | — | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Lyme School District | South Hampton School District | Mont Vernon 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 | 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.