Compare towns
Hartford vs Kensington vs Plainfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% 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% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Kensington School District | Plainfield 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.