Compare towns
Holderness vs Kensington vs Center Harbor vs Rollinsford
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 highest household income ($165k).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Rollinsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Center Harbor | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
2,009 |
955Lowest |
2,626Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rollinsford and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Kensington and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Holderness 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 |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
— | $1,809±$394Lowest 21% 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 |
$4,667 30% below NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rollinsford 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | — | — | — | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Kensington School District | — | Rollinsford 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 | 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.