Compare towns
Kensington vs Northbridge vs South Hampton
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 people working from home (19.2%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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.
| Measure | Kensington | Northbridge | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009 |
16,458Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington 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. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington 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. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and South Hampton 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington and South Hampton 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | Northbridge | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.