What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kensington has the most people working from home (19.2%).

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Middleton
People
Population	2,009Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Kensington and Middleton 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%	17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middleton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Kensington and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton 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±$18kLowest 104% above U.S.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
	Middleton 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±$47kLowest 98% above U.S.	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
	Middleton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average
	Kensington and Middleton 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.	$8,785Lowest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleton and Kensington 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%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Lowest 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 minLowest 8% above U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kensington and Middleton 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	—	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Kensington School District	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.