Compare towns
Madbury vs Hanover vs Newfields 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Newfields | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
11,685Highest |
2,023 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Newfields 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kLowest 50% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
| Newfields and Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Hanover and Newfields 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% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Newfields School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.