Compare towns
Madbury vs Kensington vs Dover vs Durham
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Kensington | Dover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,009Lowest |
33,364Highest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kensington and Madbury 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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Dover 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below 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 |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 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 | #9 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.