Compare towns
South Hampton vs 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
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | South Hampton | Norwich | Kensington | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
3,640Highest |
2,009 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
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+ | 16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
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+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
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 | $152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 192% above U.S. |
$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%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
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 | 3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
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 | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 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 | South Hampton School District | Norwich School District | Kensington School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.