Compare towns
Exeter vs Norwich vs Richmond 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
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Exeter | Norwich | Richmond | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,640Lowest |
4,159 |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 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+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% 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 | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Norwich School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 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.