Compare towns
South Hampton vs Bow vs Kensington vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | South Hampton | Bow | Kensington | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
8,335Highest |
2,009 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Bow and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Bow School District | Kensington School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.