Compare towns
Kensington vs Nelson vs East Kingston 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).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
East Kingston has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
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 | Nelson | East Kingston | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
648Lowest |
2,311Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%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 |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| East Kingston and South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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% |
52.4% 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% |
2.7%±1.6 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 |
$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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$575,500±$56k 43% 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% 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 | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$9,604 44% above NH |
$9,109 37% 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% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton 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% NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest 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 |
1976 3 yrs older 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 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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 | South Hampton 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 → | 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.