Compare towns
Kensington vs Holderness vs Lyme
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).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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.
| Measure | Kensington | Holderness | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Highest |
1,917 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Kensington and Lyme 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 |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Kensington and Lyme 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 |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Kensington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Holderness and Kensington 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kensington School District | Holderness School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None 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.