Compare towns
Holderness vs Kensington vs Bow
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).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Kensington | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,009 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kensington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Kensington 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% 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 |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | — | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Kensington School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.