Compare towns
Madbury vs Dover vs Kensington vs Barrington
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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Dover | Kensington | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
33,364Highest |
2,009Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
| Kensington and Barrington 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Barrington 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Dover 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% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Barrington 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% 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±$31k 18% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Kensington 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Barrington 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Kensington School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.