Compare towns

Canterbury vs Dover vs Kensington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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.

MeasureCanterburyDoverKensington
People
Population
2,353
33,364Highest
2,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48.6±3.8Highest
12% above NH
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
43.3±5.9
about the NH average
Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±4.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.1%±2.6
NH: 18.2%
Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±3.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
18.8%±2.9
NH: 20.1%
Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.3%
NH: 40.6%
52%Highest
NH: 40.6%
48.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3Highest
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
Canterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$129,333±$37k
31% above NH
$94,829±$7kLowest
4% below NH
$165,083±$18kHighest
67% above NH
Kensington and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$443,700±$21k
10% above NH
$436,700±$20kLowest
8% above NH
$657,700±$47kHighest
63% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,136±$233Highest
43% above NH
$1,607±$100Lowest
8% above NH
$1,813±$627
22% above NH
Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,421Lowest
11% above NH
$8,249
24% above NH
$9,637Highest
45% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
71.7%±48.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
24.4%±38.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Canterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%
NH: 7.2%
8.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
92.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
22% above NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
29 min
7% above NH
Work from home
21.6%±7.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.2%±3.9
NH: 16.8%
Canterbury and Kensington 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 — #64 of 120 in NH —
School district Shaker Regional School District Dover School District Kensington School District
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.