Compare towns
Kensington vs Stratham vs Hampton Falls vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($444k median).
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 | Stratham | Hampton Falls | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
7,754Highest |
2,328 |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Canterbury 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Canterbury 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$129,333±$37kLowest 31% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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 |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% 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±$627Lowest 22% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,136±$233 43% above NH |
| Stratham and Canterbury 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Stratham 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampton Falls School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.