Compare towns
Durham vs Kensington vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,009 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Cornish 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | Cornish 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 | 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.