Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield vs Canterbury vs Sutton
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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Canterbury | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,522Highest |
2,353 |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Canterbury and Sutton 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Sutton 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Sutton 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 |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
| Kensington and Sutton 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 |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,656±$614Lowest 11% above NH |
| Canterbury 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | Shaker Regional School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.