Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury vs Norwich vs Canterbury
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 highest household income ($165k).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
3,640Highest |
2,353 |
| 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% |
+1.6% 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. |
48.6±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Canterbury 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% |
17.4%±4.4 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% |
22.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
49.3% 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%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Madbury 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±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21kLowest 33% 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. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 209% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,421Lowest 138% 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% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest 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% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% 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% |
21.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury 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 | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Shaker Regional 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 | 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.