Compare towns
Kensington vs Norwich vs Windham vs Plainfield
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 oldest population (median age 43.3).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
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 | Windham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
3,640 |
16,038Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kensington and Windham 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%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 104% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 209% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904Lowest 153% 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% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Norwich School District | Windham School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.