Compare towns
Dublin vs Durham vs Kensington vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Dublin | Durham | Kensington | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,688 |
15,080Highest |
2,009 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Dublin and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14kLowest 6% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72kLowest 7% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dublin and Durham 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.