Compare towns
South Hampton vs Ogunquit vs Kensington vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most renters (11.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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 | South Hampton | Ogunquit | Kensington | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
1,379 |
2,009Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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 89% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
— | $1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 192% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | South Hampton School District | — | Kensington School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.