Compare towns
Bedford vs Hartford vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Bedford | Hartford | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
10,736 |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bedford School District | Hartford School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.