Compare towns

Newmarket vs Durham vs Kensington vs Milford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

MeasureNewmarketDurhamKensingtonMilford
People
Population
9,463
15,080
2,009Lowest
16,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
-1.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.9
5% below NH
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
43.3±5.9Highest
about the NH average
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
Kensington and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.1%±2.6
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
16.1%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
18.8%±2.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9
NH: 20.1%
Kensington and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.7%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
48.5%
NH: 40.6%
37.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,845±$13k
about the NH average
$124,056±$21k
25% above NH
$165,083±$18kHighest
67% above NH
$97,768±$14kLowest
about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$455,000±$22k
13% above NH
$504,300±$41k
25% above NH
$657,700±$47kHighest
63% above NH
$398,800±$20kLowest
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
$1,429±$143Lowest
4% below NH
$1,813±$627Highest
22% above NH
$1,661±$126
11% above NH
Kensington and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,734
31% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$9,637
45% above NH
$7,522Lowest
13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±8.3
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
24.4%±38.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
92.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above NH
19 minLowest
27% below NH
29 minHighest
7% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
19.2%±3.9
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Durham 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 #39 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH — #55 of 120 in NH
School district Newmarket School District Oyster River Coop School District Kensington School District Milford School District
High school in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School Oyster River High School None in town Milford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
12.3Highest
—
10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 51 photos → 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.