Compare towns
Madbury vs Rollinsford vs Stratham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Rollinsford | Stratham | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,626 |
7,754Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kensington and Stratham 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% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Rollinsford 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% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Stratham 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 |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and Stratham 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 |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Kensington and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Rollinsford 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None 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.