Compare towns
Hanover vs Kensington vs Madbury vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Kensington has the oldest population (median age 43.3).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Kensington | Madbury | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Hanover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Hanover and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hanover and Kensington 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.