Compare towns
Amherst vs Durham vs Kensington vs Mont Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Amherst | Durham | Kensington | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
15,080Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Amherst and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Kensington and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.