Compare towns
Madbury vs South Hampton vs Holderness 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).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Kensington has the most people working from home (19.2%).
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 Hampton | Holderness | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Highest |
984Lowest |
1,917 |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below 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% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest 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%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below 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±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Holderness and South Hampton 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| South Hampton and Kensington 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Holderness 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.