Compare towns

Kensington vs Nelson vs East Kingston

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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
East Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasureKensingtonNelsonEast Kingston
People
Population
2,009
648Lowest
2,311Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
NH: +4.6%
-13.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
43.3±5.9
about the NH average
42.3±11.7Lowest
about the NH average
51.7±8.9Highest
19% above NH
East Kingston and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±2.6
NH: 18.2%
27.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
16.1%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
18.8%±2.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
24.8%±2
NH: 20.1%
27.1%±5.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
East Kingston and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.5%
NH: 40.6%
61.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
46.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.3
NH: 6%
0.9%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
4.8%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
East Kingston 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
$99,792±$23kLowest
about the NH average
$138,194±$38k
40% above NH
Kensington and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$657,700±$47kHighest
63% above NH
$340,900±$49kLowest
15% below NH
$575,500±$56k
43% above NH
Kensington and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,813±$627Highest
22% above NH
$1,203±$243Lowest
19% below NH
—
Kensington and Nelson 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
$5,575Lowest
16% below NH
$9,604
44% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.4%±38.5
NH: 48.2%
40%±68.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Nelson and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.9%
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
14.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
NH: 72.8%
90.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
96.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1994Highest
15 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
7% above NH
24 minLowest
9% below NH
32 minHighest
19% above NH
Work from home
19.2%±3.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
31.5%±8Highest
NH: 16.8%
24.1%±5.4
NH: 16.8%
Nelson and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Kensington School District Nelson School District East Kingston School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 9 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.