Compare towns
Madbury vs Keene vs Kensington vs Holderness
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%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Keene | Kensington | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
22,939Highest |
2,009 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Kensington and Holderness 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Kensington School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.