Compare towns
Hartford vs Norwich vs Stowe vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Waitsfield has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | Stowe | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,640 |
5,285 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Stowe and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| 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 4% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$637,500±$76k 101% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Stowe and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Norwich and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Norwich School District | Stowe Town School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.