Compare towns
Kensington vs Norwich vs Stowe
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 homeowners (92.9%).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Norwich | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
3,640 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stowe 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Norwich 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. |
$637,500±$76kLowest 92% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Stowe 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. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Norwich 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. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich and Stowe 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 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 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | Norwich School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.