Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 104% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 209% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.