City profile · Maryland · Census ACS 2023

Kensington, MD

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Kensington - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,248
Residents
$149,698
Median income
$919,400
Median home
$2,246
Median rent (state)

Kensington - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Kensington places in the 94th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

94th
percentile, household income
97th
percentile, home value
87th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Kensington, MD

Maryland's Kensington is a small town, with 2,248 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Kensington households earn a median of $149,698 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.3%. Home values in Kensington run a median of $919,400, and the median resident age is 41.1 years. 76.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 7 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Maryland carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 105.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,246 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $255 across Maryland, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Kensington workers runs 21.7 minutes, with 50.5% driving alone and 27.6% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 91.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

2,248 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maryland

Median Household Income

$149,698 /yr

Poverty 4.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maryland average

How does Kensington compare to other US cities?

Here's how Kensington stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 94% higher than other cities
Home value 97% pricier than other cities
Median rent 87% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Kensington against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Maryland only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Maryland-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Kensington's strongest outlier among Maryland cities

Among the 450 Maryland cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Kensington ranks #16 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Kensington only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#74 of 445
83rd percentile in Maryland
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 479
66th percentile in Maryland
Median Home Value
#16 of 450
96th percentile in Maryland
Poverty Rate
#218 of 479
54th percentile in Maryland
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#19 of 479
96th percentile in Maryland

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Maryland only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

94thIncome percentile

94th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Kensington's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$919,400 3rd percentile more affordable than 3% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Kensington $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Kensington, MD Kensington, MD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kensington, MD-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Kensington, MD median $149,698/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Kensington, MD's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Kensington, MD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 76.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,248
Median Income
$149,698
Median Home Value
$919,400
Median Age
41.1
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Labor force participation
63.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
76.0%

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,000 residents2,200 residents2,400 residents2,600 residents2,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,110 residents 2,652 residents ▲ +25.7%
Kensington's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.7 minutes
Drive Alone
50.5%
Carpool
6.9%
Public Transit
8.4%
Walk
5.0%
Work from Home
27.6%
Other
1.6%

Based on 1,010 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maryland - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$255
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maryland state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maryland state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Kensington sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,246/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maryland

Hughesville
2,280 people
Hurlock
2,205 people
Solomons
2,180 people
Dunkirk
2,319 people
Point of Rocks
2,333 people
Lusby
2,161 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kensington's 2,248 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Carbon Cliff, IL
2,248 people
Hull, IA
2,248 people
Wenonah, NJ
2,248 people
Riverside, AL
2,247 people
Fairfield Bay, AR
2,247 people
Campbell, FL
2,247 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kensington's $149,698 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Buckner, KY
$149,700 median income
Lookout Mountain, GA
$149,688 median income
Indian River Shores, FL
$149,722 median income
Lake Panorama, IA
$149,722 median income
Chaires, FL
$149,750 median income
Kittredge, CO
$149,758 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kensington, MD Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Kensington, MD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 67.8% 13.8% 7.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.9% White 67.8% Black or African American 5.3% Asian 13.8% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.1% Two or more races 7.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Kensington compares to nearby Maryland cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Kensington (this city) 2,248 $149,698
Hughesville 2,280 $122,981
Hurlock 2,205 $55,705
Solomons 2,180 $89,205
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MD NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kensington, MD?

What is the population of Kensington, MD? +

The population of Kensington, MD stands at 2,248 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Kensington, MD? +

In Kensington, the typical household earns $149,698 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kensington? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Kensington; the closest available measure is the Maryland state average, a cost of living index of 105.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maryland vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Kensington, MD? +

Homes in Kensington carry a median value of $919,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.