Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield vs Lebanon
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 most kids (23.4% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Kensington and Lebanon 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 |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.