Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield vs East Kingston vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
East Kingston has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | East Kingston | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,522Highest |
2,311 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| East Kingston and Hampton Falls 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Falls 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% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Hampton Falls 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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±$47k 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
— | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$9,604 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Falls 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% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| East Kingston and Hampton Falls 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 | East Kingston School District | Hampton Falls 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.