Compare towns
Madbury vs Dover vs Lebanon 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Dover | Lebanon | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
33,364Highest |
14,999 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kensington and Lebanon 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%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$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±$31k 18% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Lebanon 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 |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Lebanon School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.