Compare towns
Madbury vs White River Junction vs Durham 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 the most kids (29% under 18).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | White River Junction | Durham | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
3,364 |
10,681Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington and White River Junction 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 | — | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | — | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.