Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Center Harbor vs Canterbury
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%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Center Harbor | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
2,203 |
955Lowest |
2,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury 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 |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% 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 |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
— | $2,136±$233Highest 43% 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 |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Shaker Regional 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 | 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.