Compare towns
Madbury vs Plymouth vs South Hampton 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).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Kensington has the most people working from home (19.2%).
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 | South Hampton | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
6,601Highest |
984Lowest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Kensington 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and South Hampton 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and South Hampton 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Plymouth and South Hampton 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington and South Hampton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | South Hampton School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.