Compare towns
Durham vs Norwich vs Royalton
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).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
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 | Norwich | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
3,640 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Norwich 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Royalton 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% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalton and Norwich 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% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kLowest 29% 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. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% 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. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Royalton 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Durham 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 | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.