Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Kensington vs Lebanon 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
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Hopkinton | Kensington | Lebanon | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,037 |
2,009Lowest |
14,999Highest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$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 | $506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Kensington and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Kensington School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.