Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield vs Durham 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
2,522 |
10,681Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
| South 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%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% 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 | $9,637 45% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | — | South Hampton 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 | 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.