What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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	Chester
People
Population	2,009Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
	Chester and Kensington 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%	19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Chester and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Kensington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester 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	$142,212±$19kLowest 44% above NH
	Kensington and Chester 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	$552,300±$42kLowest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,813±$627 22% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,637Highest 45% above NH	$8,464Lowest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.4%±38.5Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Kensington and Chester 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%	4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Kensington and Chester 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	—	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Kensington School District	Chester 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.