Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Center Harbor vs Hampton Falls
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 homeowners (92.9%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Madbury | Center Harbor | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
2,203 |
955Lowest |
2,328Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% 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 |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Hampton Falls 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Hampton Falls 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% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Hampton Falls 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% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest 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% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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±$47k 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
— | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
27.2%±22.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% 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 |
1981Lowest 2 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 |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | Hampton Falls 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.