Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield vs Rye
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).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Kensington and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Kensington and Rye 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | Rye 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 |
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.