Compare towns
Madbury vs Kensington vs Center Harbor vs Dover
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).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Kensington | Center Harbor | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,009 |
955Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
— | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Kensington and Dover 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and Dover 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 | — | — | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.