Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Townsend vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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 | Mont Vernon | Townsend | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,636 |
9,100Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kensington and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mont Vernon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,036±$19k 96% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $526,300±$39k 58% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,432 202% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mont Vernon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mont Vernon School District | North Middlesex | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.