What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amsterdam has the most affordable homes ($138k median).

Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amsterdam	Norwich
People
Population	18,166Highest	3,640Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average	40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S.
	Norwich and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amsterdam and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,178±$8kLowest 30% below U.S.	$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$137,900±$11kLowest 59% below U.S.	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,006±$45Lowest 29% below U.S.	$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,369Lowest 40% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amsterdam and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#474 of 484 in NY	#1 of 70 in VT
School district	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	Norwich School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.