Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Rollinsford vs South Hampton
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 highest household income ($165k).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Rollinsford | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
2,203 |
2,626Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and South Hampton 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% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford 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% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Kensington and South Hampton 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 |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Rollinsford and South Hampton 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% 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 |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | — | — | #94 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford School District | South Hampton 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 | 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.