Compare towns
Madbury vs South Berwick vs Portsmouth vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | South Berwick | Portsmouth | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
7,670 |
22,545Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Portsmouth 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 84% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Portsmouth School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.