Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Canterbury vs Plainfield
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).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Madbury | Canterbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
2,353 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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 |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Canterbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Shaker Regional School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.