Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Manchester
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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Kensington and Manchester 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% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Manchester 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs 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 |
25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Manchester 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 | — | — | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.