Compare towns
Madbury vs Henniker vs Kensington vs Plainfield
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).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Kensington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
6,197Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% 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 |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Henniker and Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 | — | #56 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Henniker School District | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None 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.