Compare towns
Kensington vs Keene vs Rollinsford
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Rollinsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Keene | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
22,939Highest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Rollinsford 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rollinsford 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Kensington and Rollinsford 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Rollinsford 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Keene School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.