Compare towns

Henniker vs Kensington vs Ashland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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.

MeasureHennikerKensingtonAshland
People
Population
6,197Highest
2,009Lowest
2,183
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.4%
NH: +4.6%
-6.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
43.3±5.9Highest
about the NH average
42.3±11.2
about the NH average
Kensington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.1%±2.6
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±6.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Ashland and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.5%±6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
18.8%±2.9
NH: 20.1%
25.8%±5.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
Ashland and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
48.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
35.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.3
NH: 6%
2.7%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$165,083±$18kHighest
67% above NH
$54,607±$9kLowest
45% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$657,700±$47kHighest
63% above NH
$227,000±$29kLowest
44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,813±$627Highest
22% above NH
$1,096±$155
26% below NH
Kensington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877
33% above NH
$9,637Highest
45% above NH
$4,961Lowest
26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6Highest
NH: 48.2%
24.4%±38.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
39.1%±14.8
NH: 48.2%
Henniker and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%
NH: 7.2%
1.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
21.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
92.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
29 minHighest
7% above NH
26 min
4% below NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
19.2%±3.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
9.9%±4.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Kensington and Henniker 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 #56 of 120 in NH — —
School district Henniker School District Kensington School District Ashland School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.