What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kensington has the most affordable homes ($658k median).

Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kensington	Rye
People
Population	2,009Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Rye and Kensington 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%	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Kensington and Rye 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	$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH
	Kensington and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$657,700±$47kLowest 63% above NH	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH	$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH
	Kensington and Rye 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	$7,519Lowest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rye 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%	6.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	29 minHighest 8% above NH
Work from home	19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Kensington School District	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.