Compare towns
Plainfield vs Kensington vs Sanbornton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Sanbornton has the most renters (14.1% rent).
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 | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,009Lowest |
3,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Kensington and Sanbornton 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%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$113,750±$41kLowest 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District | Winnisquam Regional 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.