Compare towns
Lebanon vs Hopkinton vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hopkinton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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 | Lebanon | Hopkinton | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
6,037 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Hopkinton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Hopkinton School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.0Highest |
— |
| 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.