Compare towns
Kensington vs Norwich vs Williston
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 kids (24% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
3,640 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% 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. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kensington School District | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.