Compare towns
South Hampton vs Durham vs Dover 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
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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.
| Measure | South Hampton | Durham | Dover | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
15,080 |
33,364Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% 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 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below 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 | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above 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 | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.