Compare towns
Kensington vs Center Harbor vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Canterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Kensington | Center Harbor | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009 |
955Lowest |
2,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury 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±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
| Kensington and Canterbury 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 |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Lowest 22% above NH |
— | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
91%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kensington School District | — | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.