What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($337k 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	Bristol	Norwich
People
Population	3,778Highest	3,640Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT
	Bristol and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%	16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bristol and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	81%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7%	4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Bristol and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT	$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT	$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Lowest 3% above VT	$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT
	Norwich and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Lowest 19% above VT	$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%	30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bristol and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	71.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% above VT	19 minLowest 19% below VT
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Norwich and Bristol 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	#31 of 70 in VT	#1 of 70 in VT
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	Norwich School District
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.