Compare towns
Kensington vs Dover vs Pembroke
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 highest household income ($165k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% 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 | Kensington | Dover | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Kensington and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Pembroke 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 |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Kensington and Dover 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Pembroke 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Dover School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.