Compare towns
Center Harbor 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
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Center Harbor | Kensington | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,009 |
2,203Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.