Compare towns
Holderness vs Durham vs Kensington vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Holderness | Durham | Kensington | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
15,080Highest |
2,009 |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kensington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Holderness and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 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 | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet | 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.