Compare towns

Kensington vs Meredith vs Conway

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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k 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.

MeasureKensingtonMeredithConway
People
Population
2,009Lowest
6,758
10,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
43.3±5.9Lowest
about the NH average
55.5±3.7Highest
28% above NH
55±4.1
27% above NH
Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±2.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
12.4%±2.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Kensington and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
34.2%±5
NH: 20.1%
35.1%±5.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
Conway and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
45.9%
NH: 40.6%
37.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.3
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
5%±3Highest
NH: 6%
Conway 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±$18kHighest
67% above NH
$87,019±$19k
12% below NH
$64,385±$8kLowest
35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$657,700±$47kHighest
63% above NH
$480,100±$48k
19% above NH
$314,000±$43kLowest
22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,813±$627Highest
22% above NH
$1,149±$304
23% below NH
$1,095±$141Lowest
27% below NH
Kensington and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,637Highest
45% above NH
$5,006
25% below NH
$4,087Lowest
39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.4%±38.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.5%±9.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
47.3%±13.9
NH: 48.2%
Meredith and Conway 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%
7.7%
NH: 7.2%
8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
75.8%
NH: 72.8%
71.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
7% above NH
26 min
about the NH average
21 minLowest
23% below NH
Work from home
19.2%±3.9
NH: 16.8%
23.7%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±4.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Meredith 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 — #62 of 120 in NH #76 of 120 in NH
School district Kensington School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Conway School District
High school in town None in town Inter-Lakes High School Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.