Compare towns
Kensington vs Mapleton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Mapleton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009 |
1,884Lowest |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kensington and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 104% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.