Compare towns
Madbury vs Plymouth vs Durham 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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Durham | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
6,601 |
15,080Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| 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% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Madbury 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.