Compare towns
Madbury vs Wilder 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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
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 | Wilder | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203 |
3,087Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 84% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilder and Kensington 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington and Madbury 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 | — | 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 |
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.