What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kensington	Middlesex
People
Population	2,009Highest	1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Middlesex 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%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlesex 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%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex and Kensington 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.	$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S.	$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Kensington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,637Highest 209% above U.S.	$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.4%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Kensington and Middlesex 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%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	19.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Kensington School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.