North School · National Register of Historic Places
Kensington’s story
289 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1842.
5 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1737Kensington is settled
KensingtonNH
Trash day: Wednesday4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
2,092
2025 Census estimate · −0% since 2020
Typical home
$791K
−0% in a year
Household income
$165K
median
Median age
43.3
years
Jobs based here
363
A commuter town
Is Kensington a good place to live?
The best of Kensington’s subject grades are an A for health, incomes, and history; the weakest is a C for cost of living. Kensington’s median household income is $165,000, above both New Hampshire’s towns ($103,000) and U.S. towns ($80,000). Only 14 of New Hampshire’s 187 towns score higher on health. 28% of the land in Kensington is conserved, above both New Hampshire’s towns (18%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Kensington has 5 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them North School and Union Meetinghouse-Universalist Church. Kensington has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Kensington stand out
Where Kensington beats most towns.
How Kensington grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Hampshire), ordered by how far Kensington is from typical.
HealthExeter Hospital 3.8 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & incomeAOpen →SchoolsA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →Cost of livingCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.2 of 20; 1.2% of households have no car; 1.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsA−Open →History1 notable person born hereAOpen →Civic life3.6 library visits per resident; 4.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.3; 48% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 185 attractions →America's Stonehenge and 94 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Kensington. Close and well known come first.
14 mi Ancient siteAmerica's Stonehenge
39 mi LakeWalden Pond
40 mi AttractionFreedom Trail
40 mi Stadium & arenaHarvard Stadium
39 mi MuseumBunker Hill Monument
40 mi MuseumOld State HouseSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
America's Stonehenge: User:Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Walden Pond: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Freedom Trail: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Harvard Stadium: Nick Allen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bunker Hill Monument: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Old State House: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 2.5
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Kensington: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Kensington, and how to reach them.
PowerUnitil21.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSeabrook Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpWednesdayTrash dayTown site
SchoolsExeter Region Cooperative School DistrictKensington School District2 districts serve Kensington; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteIn personNew Hampshire has no online registration; you can register in person up to and including Election Day or by mail only in special circumstances (received 13 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTown Clerk of KensingtonThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code0383303833 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 19, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Kensington.
HealthA
On CDC estimates, Kensington is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns
Kensington beats the New Hampshire average on 14 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 27% of Kensington adults feel lonely.
95%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Kensington | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 8.6% | 11% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 33% | 36% |
32 measures vs. New Hampshire
14 better17 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Kensington | NH |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 4.9% | 6.8% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.1% | 9.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11% | 9.8% |
Exeter Hospital
3.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsA−
Kensington’s schools rank ahead of 75% of New Hampshire districts
Its public schools are run by the Kensington School District. Its one school is below.
75%of NH districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 142 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NH on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade C
Kensington’s typical home value is about $791K
The typical Kensington home is worth about $791,000, about the same as a year ago, 55% above the New Hampshire typical home. The median rent in Kensington is $1,813 a month.
$791KZillow home value
| Kensington | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 93% | 82% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,813 a month | $1,388 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Kensington$791K
New Hampshire$511K
−0%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsA−
Conserved land covers nearly a quarter of Kensington
14 miles of trail in 7 parks and preserves. Charles Hodges Conservation Area, at 198 acres with 2.4 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Kensington’s trail density is 1.1 miles per square mile.
28.4%conserved
28.4%
conserved · 2,160 of 7,618 acres
14 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Charles Hodges Conservation Area | 2.4 mi | 198 |
| 2. Meetinghouse Hill | 1.1 mi | 46 |
| 3. Sawyer Park | 0.3 mi | 33 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Kensington stands out in New Hampshire and nationally: a smaller share of its working residents work locally
Of the 127 New Hampshire towns we compare, none has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Kensington. Jobs based in Kensington grew to 363 in 2023, 51 more than in 2013. 1.9% of residents live below the poverty line in Kensington.
2%work in town
| Kensington | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 1.9% | 6.8% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 19% | 16% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.1% | 10% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Kensington2%
Exeter10%
Portsmouth9%
Newburyport4%
Manchester4%
14 mi
median commute distance
363
jobs based in Kensington
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 36% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Kensington faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 73% of U.S. communities. Since 1984, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Kensington.
27risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesEarthquakes
4
paid flood claims since 1984
13
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Kensington has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Kensington has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 16° and about 62 inches of snow falls in a winter.
62″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–37°
Spring35–57°
Summer58–80°
Fall41–61°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than New Hampshire overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 47% of residents (40% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 17% of residents (21% statewide). 49% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 41% across New Hampshire.
43.3median age · NH 43.3
| Kensington | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 49% | 39% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 17% | 18% | 22% |
| Median age | 43.3 years | 44.8 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 19% | 20% | 18% |
KensingtonNew HampshireUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma1%
High school17%
Some college16%
Associate’s17%
Bachelor’s31%
Graduate18%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6 points. Across New Hampshire, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Kensington | NH | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 7.1% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.1% | 8.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.9% | 8.7% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.2% | 12.7% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.9% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.4% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 17.7% | 15.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.6% | 12.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.1% | 7.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.4% | 5.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 17.1% | 26.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.6% | 17.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 17.4% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 31% | 24.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 17.5% | 16.1% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,100, single groups can be off by several points
Safety
Crime reported in Kensington
Kensington's reported crime rate is well below New Hampshire's. Only 4 of the 126 New Hampshire towns we compare have a lower property crime rate than Kensington. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Kensington | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1 per 1,000 residents | 4.4 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Kensington0
New Hampshire1.2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Kensington1
New Hampshire8.3
U.S.15.5
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
2
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kensington
20pages on Kensington
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 75% of NH districts · 1 schoolSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than NH on 14 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$791K typical home · down 0% in a yearWork & commuteA$165K median household income · 363 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Kensington
Northern Essex Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Haverhill, MA10.3 mi$6,732 in-state tuitionGreat Bay Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Portsmouth12.7 mi$7,200 in-state tuitionUniversity of New HampshireUniversity or college · Public · Durham14.1 mi$19,202 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Kensington residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Hampshire.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Kensington for work
Where Kensington’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
363jobs based in Kensington
2%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
5 places in Kensington on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Kensington
Place in New Hampshire, United States
Kensington is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,095 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1737
- Area
- 12 sq mi
- Elevation
- 115 ft
- Area code
- 603
Kensington’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Kensington.
East KingstonHampton FallsSouth HamptonExeterKensington
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NH rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington | — | — | C | — | A− | A |
| East Kingston | — | — | D− | A+ | B+ | A |
| Hampton Falls | — | — | C | A− | A− | A+ |
| South Hampton | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Exeter | #28 | A− | D | A− | A− | A |
Kensington, East Kingston and Hampton Falls have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Kensington reports no FBI crime data of its own. South Hampton isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Kensington with a neighbor →
Questions about Kensington
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Kensington, NH expensive?
That is 6.8 years of the area's median household income ($115,863 across the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.