Compare towns

Danby vs Norwich vs Waitsfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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.

MeasureDanbyNorwichWaitsfield
People
Population
1,133Lowest
3,640Highest
1,918
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
+7.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% below VT
44.3±5.3
about the VT average
Danby and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
23.8%±5.1
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Waitsfield and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
63.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
3.8%±3
VT: 7%
Norwich and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,321±$13kLowest
5% below VT
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
$84,375±$34k
4% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,400±$41kLowest
14% below VT
$637,500±$76kHighest
101% above VT
$422,400±$92k
33% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
$1,200±$821
about the VT average
Norwich and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,543Lowest
10% below VT
$10,000+Highest
at least 98% above VT
$6,208
23% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.4%±34.6
VT: 48.4%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.4%±30.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
Waitsfield and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
26% above VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21%±5.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
19%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
Norwich and Waitsfield 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 — #1 of 70 in VT —
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Norwich School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.