Compare towns
Kensington vs Durham vs Center Harbor
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 kids (17.1% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009 |
15,080Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Center Harbor 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% 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 |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.