Compare towns
Plainfield vs Kensington vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Kensington | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,009Lowest |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% 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 | $442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% 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 | $7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District | Norwich 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.