Compare towns
Kensington vs Meredith vs Plainfield vs South Hampton
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).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Meredith | Plainfield | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
6,758Highest |
2,522 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% 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 |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% 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 | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.