Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Keene vs Brentwood
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Keene | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
22,939Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brentwood 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood 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±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 6 photos → |
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.