What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kensington	Brookline
People
Population	2,009Lowest	5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average	41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH
	Kensington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1%	11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
	Brookline and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$165,083±$18kLowest 67% above NH	$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH
	Brookline and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH	$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,813±$627Lowest 22% above NH	$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH
	Brookline and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,637Lowest 45% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.4%±38.5Highest NH: 48.2%	23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Kensington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH	1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	33 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Brookline 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	—	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Kensington School District	Brookline School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.