Compare towns
Hartford vs Kensington vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Hartford | Kensington | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
2,009Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Kensington School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.