Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.
| Measure | Durham | Eliot | Norwich | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,146 |
3,640Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Stowe 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above 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 | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% 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 | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Norwich 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Norwich 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Norwich School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.