Compare towns
Kensington vs Center Harbor vs Mont Vernon
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).
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009 |
955Lowest |
2,636Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon 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±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
— | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
91%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | — | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | — | Mont Vernon 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.