Population 18,665 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kensington
Household size in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.63 | 2.52 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.55 | 2.49 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.47 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | −0.04 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Households in Kensington run small, averaging 2.48 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.64 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.1 | 40.4 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.2 | 41.2 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.8 | 41.9 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.5 | 41.9 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.5 | +1.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Kensington skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.1, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 11.4% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 12.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 10.7% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 11.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.5% of households in Kensington, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Kensington
Renters in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 31.0% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 32.4% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.5% | 33.7% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 32.7% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 16.7% of households in Kensington rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 47.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the south. The renter share has risen 6.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 8.0% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 8.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 9.2% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 7.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.8% of homes in Kensington are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.0 points, even as the national rate fell. Kensington has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Connecticut cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1966 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1967 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Kensington run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. Locally, though, homes here are newer than in the wider Hartford area, where the median home dates to 1967. The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $912 | $1,014 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $937 | $1,114 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,264 | $1,229 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,400 | $1,559 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$488 | +$545 | +$575 | +$606 |
The median renter in Kensington pays $1,400 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $488 a month since 2006–10, up 54%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Kensington
Bachelor's degrees in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7% | 35.0% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.7% | 36.2% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.1% | 39.1% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 45.4% | 41.8% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +6.8 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Kensington than nationally: 45.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.7 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.6% | 88.3% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 89.6% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 90.7% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 91.8% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +3.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Kensington is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Compared with other Connecticut cities, though, Kensington has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Kensington
| Period | Kensington | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 7.6% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 5.7% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 5.2% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Kensington has been low: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 12 of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.3 points, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Kensington compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington | 2.48 | 47.5 | 7.5% | 16.7% | 4.8% | 1974 | $1,400 | 45.4% | 93.4% | 2.3% |
| East Berlin | 2.20 | 51.1 | 9.2% | 22.9% | 5.0% | 1982 | $1,446 | 45.2% | 85.8% | 1.2% |
| New Britain | 2.54 | 36.0 | 19.2% | 54.9% | 10.2% | 1955 | $1,312 | 21.6% | 83.3% | 8.2% |
| Newington | 2.40 | 45.6 | 7.1% | 21.8% | 5.4% | 1967 | $1,551 | 40.0% | 93.5% | 3.4% |
| Cromwell | 2.48 | 44.0 | 8.7% | 17.9% | 8.1% | 1972 | $1,669 | 48.3% | 97.7% | 2.8% |
| Southington | 2.61 | 44.7 | 7.3% | 18.1% | 5.2% | 1975 | $1,590 | 44.8% | 94.8% | 4.1% |
| Rocky Hill | 2.27 | 44.9 | 5.1% | 31.7% | 4.9% | 1979 | $1,814 | 45.9% | 95.1% | 3.1% |
| Meriden | 2.52 | 40.2 | 18.0% | 40.1% | 9.0% | 1959 | $1,450 | 21.2% | 85.0% | 7.8% |
| Plainville | 2.23 | 44.6 | 5.7% | 32.3% | 7.3% | 1969 | $1,178 | 30.6% | 93.1% | 3.4% |
| Middletown | 2.19 | 38.9 | 11.4% | 47.2% | 6.9% | 1966 | $1,488 | 39.9% | 93.6% | 4.7% |
| Rockfall | 2.35 | 51.3 | 3.1% | 17.1% | 8.4% | 1964 | $3,363 | 41.6% | 95.7% | 1.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Affton, MO · Yazoo City, MS · Woodbridge, NJ · Winthrop Town, MA · Waterville, ME · Walterboro, SC · Walnut Grove, WA · Baker, LA · Avon, CT · Avenel, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Kensington. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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