Compare towns
Bedford vs Norwich vs Stowe
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 the highest household income ($167k).
Norwich has the youngest population (median age 40.8).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Norwich | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
3,640Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Bedford 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Lowest 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Bedford 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. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Norwich 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. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Norwich 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Stowe 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Norwich School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.