Compare towns
Madbury vs Kensington vs Center Harbor vs Rollinsford
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%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,009 |
955Lowest |
2,626Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
38.8±5.5 10% 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% |
17.7%±4.8 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% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% 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 |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
— | $1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Kensington and Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| 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% |
40%±26.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rollinsford and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%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 |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Kensington 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 | — | — | — | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | — | Rollinsford School District |
| High school 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.