Compare towns
Norwich vs Kensington vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Norwich | Kensington | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
2,009 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% 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 | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Kensington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Kensington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Kensington School District | Nelson School District |
| 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.