Compare towns
Holderness vs Kensington vs Madbury vs Center Harbor
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).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Madbury | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
2,009 |
2,203Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Kensington and Holderness 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Holderness School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop 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.