Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Hartford vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
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 | Bellows Falls | Hartford | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891Lowest |
10,736Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
| Hartford and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
| Norwich and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 14% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Hartford 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.