Compare towns
Madbury vs Brentwood vs Holderness vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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.
| Measure | Madbury | Brentwood | Holderness | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
4,641Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Brentwood and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Brentwood and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | — | #16 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brentwood School District | Holderness School District | Kensington 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 | 6 photos → | 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.