Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Durham vs Holderness 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
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Center Harbor | Durham | Holderness | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 955Lowest |
15,080Highest |
1,917 |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Holderness and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Holderness School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.