Median Income
$143,021
household / year
Median Home Value
$882,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$2,118
gross / month
Cost of Living
109
national avg = 100

Is Kensington, MD a Good Place to Live?

Kensington is a small town of 2,241 in Maryland, with a median household income of $143,021 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Kensington stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kensington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kensington city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 108.6

Kensington's overall cost of living index is 108.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kensington costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric Kensington, MD National Avg
Median Home Value $882,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $2,118 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 57.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $143,021 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Kensington is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Kensington is served primarily by Montgomery County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Kensington, MD National Avg
School District Montgomery County Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 138 —
Middle Schools 40 —
High Schools 29 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.8:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 80.0% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 97.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kensington sees average highs of 42.9°F in January and 88.2°F in July, with 46.3 inches of annual precipitation and 5.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricKensington, MD
Average High — January42.9°F
Average High — July88.2°F
Annual Precipitation46.3"
Annual Snowfall5.8"

Demographics

MetricKensington, MDNational Avg
Population2,241—
Median Age40.438.9
Unemployment Rate5.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time32.6 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)71.7%59.3%
Black or African American3.7%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino7.6%18.9%
Asian14.1%6.3%
Under 1832.4%22.2%
65 and over15.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Chevy Chase View, MD 1 mi South Kensington, MD 1 mi North Kensington, MD 1 mi Garrett Park, MD 1 mi Forest Glen, MD 2 mi

Kensington vs Other Cities

Kensington, MD vs Chevy Chase View, MD Kensington, MD vs South Kensington, MD Kensington, MD vs North Kensington, MD Kensington, MD vs Garrett Park, MD Kensington, MD vs Forest Glen, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Kensington's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Kensington roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $882,900 and median rent is $2,118/month.
Crime data for Kensington is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Kensington are operated by Montgomery County Public Schools. The district has 138 elementary, 40 middle, and 29 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 80.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kensington, MD has a population of 2,241, a median household income of $143,021, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Kensington averages 42.9°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.3 inches with about 5.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Kensington, Maryland is 2,241 with a median age of 40.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kensington: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $882,900, median household income $143,021, schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kensington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.