Compare towns
Kensington vs Hollis vs Rye
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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Hollis | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
8,603Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and Hollis 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% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and Rye 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% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hollis 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% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hollis 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±$18k 67% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
| Hollis and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kLowest 63% above NH |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Kensington and Rye 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Hollis 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hollis 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 | — | #8 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.