Compare towns
Madbury vs Chester 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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Chester | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203 |
5,300Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chester 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 |
$142,212±$19kLowest 44% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
— | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above 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 |
$8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Kensington and Chester 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Chester 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Chester School District | Kensington 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 |
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.