Compare towns
Kensington vs Nelson vs East Kingston vs Brentwood
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 most expensive homes ($658k median).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
East Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Nelson | East Kingston | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
648Lowest |
2,311 |
4,641Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% 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 |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| East Kingston and Brentwood 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% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 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% |
49% 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% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| East Kingston and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington 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 |
$528,100±$75k 31% 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±$627 22% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
— | $2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$9,604 44% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Nelson 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1994 15 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 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 |
28 min 4% 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% |
23.1%±8.5 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Nelson School District | East Kingston School District | Brentwood 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 | 9 photos → | 6 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.