Compare towns
Kensington vs Durham vs Cornish
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009 |
10,681Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Cornish 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Kensington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Cornish 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | — | Cornish 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.