Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Mont Vernon vs Lee
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).
Mont Vernon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Mont Vernon | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
2,636 |
4,576Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Mont Vernon 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% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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 |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon 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±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below 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 |
$9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | — | — | #4 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 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.