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CITY

Kensington

California · 5,179 residents · 0.964 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#2Most work-from-homeof 6,82654.0%#16Highest median rentof 6,764$3,501#45Most educatedof 6,82683.8%#73Highest median household incomeof 6,818$237,130
The short version

Kensington is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $237,130. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 84% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $1,539,000. With a median age of 46.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 1% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
84% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 99%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,179
+5%since 2000
from 4,936 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
5,372 / sq mi
−6%since 2009
from 5,690 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
46.6
−1%since 2000
from 47.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K5K5K6K1990201020202024Kensington
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.9%(303)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.4%(434)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.9%(200)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 193.8%(196)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.3%(173)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 346.1%(317)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4417%(878)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.8%(613)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.4%(849)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.5%(752)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846%(310)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3%(154)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$237,130
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,247 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$113,209
+105%since 2000
from $55,275 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
87.0%
+11.5 ptssince 2009
from 75.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
3.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.413
+7%since 2010
from 0.385 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade8%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Arts, entertainment, food4.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade2.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Information1.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$1,539,000
+99%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $423,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$3,501
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,559 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
86.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 85.8% in 2000
13.2% rent
Vacancy rate
2.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.4%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.2%
+17.2 ptssince 2009
from 34.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.5
+3%since 2009
from 6.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
73
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kensington on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic79.9%(3,942)
Black2.5%(123)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(172)
Asian10.5%(517)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic67.2%(3,480)
Black2.4%(124)
Hispanic / Latino6%(311)
Asian11.3%(587)
Other13.1%(677)
Diversity Score
64
+26%since 2009
from 51 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.7%(191)
Chilean0.7%(35)
Uruguayan0.5%(28)
Guatemalan0.3%(18)
Dominican0.2%(10)
Panamanian0.2%(8)
Salvadoran0.1%(5)
Asian origin
Chinese4.3%(222)
Japanese1.5%(76)
Korean1.1%(55)
Filipino0.4%(21)
Taiwanese0.4%(19)
Vietnamese0.3%(18)
Nepalese0.1%(3)
Ancestry
German17.5%(907)
English14.6%(758)
Irish12.6%(650)
Italian4.9%(256)
Danish4.2%(215)
Russian3.4%(176)
Scottish3.1%(160)
Polish3.1%(159)
American2.9%(149)
Swedish2.8%(144)
French2%(103)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(91)
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data
Iranian1.7%(89)
Dutch1.5%(78)
Norwegian1.4%(72)
Swiss1.2%(63)
Ukrainian1%(52)
Austrian0.7%(38)
British0.6%(33)
Finnish0.6%(33)
Portuguese0.6%(33)
West Indian0.6%(32)
Canadian0.6%(31)
Jamaican0.6%(30)
Australian0.6%(29)
Arab0.5%(28)
Syrian0.5%(28)
Greek0.5%(28)
Czech0.5%(26)
Hungarian0.5%(25)
Ethiopian0.5%(24)
Belgian0.4%(22)
Lithuanian0.4%(20)
Armenian0.3%(15)
Welsh0.2%(10)
Brazilian0.2%(9)
Slovak0.2%(8)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest Chinese population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
83.8%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
99.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 97.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
52.6%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 43.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.7 min
+47%since 2000
from 22.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
27.8%
−31.4 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
7.0%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
54.0%
+41.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2011
from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.3%
+5.5 ptssince 2011
from 62.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.5%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
83.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 85.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
53.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
13.9%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.6%
−45.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
6.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2012
from 6.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.4%
−95.6 ptssince 2013
from 97.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
97.8%
+4.2 ptssince 2017
from 93.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
85.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2016
from 82.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.8%(501)
Married61.5%(1,294)
Widowed4.8%(102)
Divorced9.8%(207)
Women 15+
Never married20.7%(442)
Married56.6%(1,211)
Widowed10%(213)
Divorced12.7%(272)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Kensington to nearby cities

KENSINGTON VS
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Income$127,876−46%
Home value$1,124,400−27%
Population26,121+404%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KENSINGTON VS
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Income$144,107−39%
Home value$1,202,200−22%
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KENSINGTON VS
Berkeley
Income$108,092−54%
Home value$1,413,900−8%
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KENSINGTON VS
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Income$117,092−51%
Home value$604,800−61%
Population13,251+156%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Kensington, California?

Kensington, California has about 5,179 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kensington, California?

The typical household in Kensington, California earns about $237,130 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kensington, California expensive?

In Kensington, California, the median home is worth about $1,539,000, and the typical rent is about $3,501 a month.

How educated are people in Kensington, California?

About 83.8% of adults age 25 and over in Kensington, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kensington, California?

About 3.6% of people in Kensington, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kensington, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Kensington, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 205 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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