Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Norwich vs Brentwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Kensington | Madbury | Norwich | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
3,640 |
4,641Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
43.8±3.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 104% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$165,509±$23kHighest 105% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$528,100±$75k 59% 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 | $1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,217±$654Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Lowest 209% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,713 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.9%±37.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brentwood and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brentwood and Norwich 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.