Compare towns
Plainfield vs Kensington vs Durham vs Rollinsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Plainfield | Kensington | Durham | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,009Lowest |
10,681Highest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Kensington and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District | — | Rollinsford 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 | 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.