Compare towns
Holderness vs Rollinsford vs South Berwick vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
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 | Rollinsford | South Berwick | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,626 |
7,670Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick 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±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$398,100±$33k 20% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,809±$394 28% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$6,851 120% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Rollinsford School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.