Compare towns
Durham vs Kensington vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Durham | Kensington | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
2,009Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kensington and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Amesbury 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.