Compare towns
Eliot vs Windham vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Eliot | Windham | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,038Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Windham School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.