What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Kensington has the oldest population (median age 43.3).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Kensington
People
Population	15,080Highest	2,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH	43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH	$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH	$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH	$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH
	Kensington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$9,637Lowest 45% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%	24.4%±38.5Lowest 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	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below NH	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%	19.2%±3.9Lowest 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	Kensington School District
High school in town	Oyster River High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	51 photos →	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.