Compare towns
Kensington vs Nelson vs Canterbury vs Mont Vernon
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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Nelson | Canterbury | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
648Lowest |
2,353 |
2,636Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Canterbury 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Canterbury 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Mont Vernon 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 |
| School district | Kensington School District | Nelson School District | Shaker Regional School District | Mont Vernon 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.