Compare towns
Kensington vs North Hampton vs Plainfield 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).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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.
| Measure | Kensington | North Hampton | Plainfield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
4,543 |
2,522 |
4,576Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| North 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Lee 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% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Kensington and North 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| North 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±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
— |
| Kensington and North Hampton 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and North Hampton 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | North Hampton School District | Plainfield 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.