Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield vs Hampton Beach
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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
2,605Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.