Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield vs Somersworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% 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%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Somersworth 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% |
14%±3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.