Compare towns
Durham vs Kensington vs Mont Vernon
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 the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
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 | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon 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%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon 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 NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% 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 |
$9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | Mont Vernon 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.