Compare towns
Brentwood vs East Kingston vs Kensington vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
East Kingston has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Brentwood | East Kingston | Kensington | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641Highest |
2,311 |
2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| East Kingston and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| East Kingston and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$138,194±$38kLowest 40% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
| Kensington and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
— | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713 46% above NH |
$9,604Lowest 44% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1994 15 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| East Kingston and Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | — | — | — |
| School district | Brentwood School District | East Kingston School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | 9 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.