Compare towns
Kensington vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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.
| Measure | Kensington | Westminster | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,999Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Kensington 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.