Compare towns

Kensington vs Putney 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 most expensive homes ($658k median).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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.

MeasureKensingtonPutneyPlainfield
People
Population
2,009Lowest
2,622Highest
2,522
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±5.9Highest
11% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Kensington 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
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%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$165,083±$18kHighest
104% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$122,656±$13k
52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$657,700±$47kHighest
98% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,813±$627Highest
28% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
Kensington and Plainfield 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.
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$7,904
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.4%±38.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
19.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Kensington and Plainfield 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 — #32 of 70 in VT #19 of 120 in NH
School district Kensington School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → 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.