Compare towns
Kensington vs Townsend vs Hampton Falls
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Townsend | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
9,100Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Hampton Falls 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 104% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| 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 98% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 209% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Hampton Falls 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | North Middlesex | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| 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.