Compare towns
Kensington vs Lebanon vs Madbury 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 most expensive homes ($658k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Lebanon | Madbury | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
14,999Highest |
2,203 |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Lebanon 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Madbury 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above 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 | $9,637 45% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Lebanon 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.