Kensington

Rockingham CountySeacoast RegionPopulation: 2,095

Overview

Kensington is a small, rural town in Rockingham County near Exeter, known for its farmland and low-density residential development. The town has intentionally limited commercial growth, preserving much of its agricultural character.

Kensington's rural roads connect scattered farms and residential neighborhoods, with no significant downtown of its own. The town's proximity to Exeter provides access to shopping, dining, and the broader Seacoast job market.

Housing in Kensington tends toward larger lots and higher price points, reflecting demand from families seeking rural character and strong schools near the Seacoast. The town draws affluent families and commuters working in Exeter or Portsmouth.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Rural character
  • Near Exeter
  • Good schools
  • Farmland

Cons

  • Expensive
  • No downtown
  • Limited services

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Kensington.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$14.28
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$13.32
Equalization ratio: 93%
Municipal
$3.07
Local School
$9.53
State Education
$1.10
County
$0.58

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$14.28$13.32$3.07$9.53$1.10$0.58

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$3,570$298
$350,000$4,998$417
$500,000$7,140$595
$750,000$10,710$893
$1,000,000$14,280$1,190

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $14.28 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
78.8°F
Winter Avg High
38.8°F
Annual Snowfall
40.6 in
Annual Rainfall
48.4 in
Sunny Days/Year
271
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
46 mi
~63 min drive
Manchester
33 mi
~47 min drive
Portsmouth
20 mi
~29 min drive
Concord
49 mi
~63 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMapUpdated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
10/10
Crime Rate
2.86/1,000
Crime Trend
stable

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
9/100
Trail Miles
1.9
000

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
0

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income
$139,583
Per Capita Income
$62,011
Median Family Income
$152,500

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$513,600
Median Rent
$1,352/mo
Homeownership Rate
90.42%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate
3.93%
In Labor Force
1,195
Work From Home
0.35%

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
31.72%
Total with Degree
466

🚗Commute

Work From Home
0.35%

👥Demographics

Median Age
47.9 years
Avg Household Size
2.79 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year)Census Data Year: 2022Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Kensington

one registered condo association — offering active low-maintenance living options.

One condo association

Source: Rockingham County Audit - AI Discovery (data as of August 2026)

Compare Kensington with Other Towns

See how Kensington stacks up against other NH communities.