Compare towns
Hartford vs Norwich vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Hartford | Norwich | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,640Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Hartford 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Norwich School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.