Compare towns
South Hampton vs Durham vs Kensington vs Dublin
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Dublin has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
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 | Kensington | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
15,080Highest |
2,009 |
1,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
| Dublin and South Hampton 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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Dublin 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Kensington 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% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$104,659±$14kLowest 6% 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 |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$430,500±$72kLowest 7% 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±$143 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,325±$165Lowest 11% below 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$8,165Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and South Hampton 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dublin and Durham 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 | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.