Compare towns
Kensington vs Mont Vernon vs South Hampton vs Lee
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).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k 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 | Mont Vernon | South Hampton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
2,636 |
984Lowest |
4,576Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 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% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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 |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% 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 |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% 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 |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below 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 | $9,637 45% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Mont Vernon School District | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 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.