Compare towns
Madbury vs Durham vs Hampton Falls 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hampton Falls | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
10,681Highest |
2,328 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637Lowest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hampton Falls 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Hampton Falls 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 | 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.