Compare towns
Kensington vs Thornton vs Plainfield
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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Thornton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,799Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Thornton and Kensington 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Thornton 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% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Kensington 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Thornton School District | Plainfield 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.