Compare towns

Durham vs Norwich vs White River Junction

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureDurhamNorwichWhite River Junction
People
Population
10,681Highest
3,640
3,364Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
40.8±3.2Highest
5% above U.S.
33.7±3.2
13% below U.S.
Kids under 18
6.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Norwich and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,070±$25k
39% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,000±$45k
50% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,302±$211
8% below U.S.
$1,460±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.4%±19.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
35% below U.S.
19 minHighest
28% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Norwich and White River Junction 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 #9 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT —
School district — Norwich School District —
High school in town — None in town —
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.