Compare towns
Kensington vs Plymouth vs Hampton Falls vs Brentwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Hampton Falls | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
6,601Highest |
2,328 |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Brentwood 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Hampton Falls 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Brentwood 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 45% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Plymouth 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.