Compare towns
Madbury vs Center Harbor vs Kensington 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
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
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.
| Measure | Madbury | Center Harbor | Kensington | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
955Lowest |
2,009 |
2,636Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Mont Vernon 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% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% 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 | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
— | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Kensington and Madbury 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 |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | — | — | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Kensington School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school 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.