The Town FilesSouth Kensington, Maryland
Community in Montgomery County · population 8,829 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $919,800
- Household income
- $210,953
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 42.6
South Kensington is a community of 8,829 people in Montgomery County, Maryland. The median home is worth $919,800, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more upscale than 97% of Maryland towns, better transit than 93% of Maryland towns, better for families than 90% of Maryland towns.
How South Kensington ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Kensington is worth $919,800, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $210,953, which is more affordable than 28% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $3,479 a month. 86.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Kensington | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $919,800 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $3,479 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $210,953 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.8% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Kensington
| People | South Kensington | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 83.2% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.8% | — |
| Work from home | 40.3% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 94.3% |
Weather in South Kensington
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.8 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Kensington since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 6.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 67 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 114 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 2, 2016.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 462,298 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $94,473 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in South Kensington itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Towns near South Kensington
- Forest Glen, MD1.2 mi · 6,897 people · home $606,100
- North Kensington, MD1.6 mi · 9,497 people · home $576,700
- Chevy Chase, MD1.7 mi · 10,176 people · home $1,245,000
- Wheaton, MD2.3 mi · 52,150 people · home $501,200
- Chevy Chase, MD2.5 mi · 2,904 people · home $1,670,600
- Silver Spring, MD2.6 mi · 81,015 people · home $643,300
- Kemp Mill, MD2.9 mi · 13,378 people · home $596,600
- Four Corners, MD3.1 mi · 8,316 people · home $620,400
South Kensington questions
Is South Kensington, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Kensington scores better for retirees than 74% of Maryland towns and quieter than 31%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in South Kensington?
The median owner-occupied home in South Kensington is valued at $919,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $210,953, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $3,479 a month.
What is the weather like in South Kensington?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 5.8 inches of snow.
Does South Kensington get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Kensington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)