Compare towns
Madbury vs Holderness vs Ashland 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%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
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 | Holderness | Ashland | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,183 |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kensington and Ashland 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% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Ashland 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Ashland 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% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$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 |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Kensington 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% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Holderness School District | Ashland School District | Kensington 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.