What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holderness	Norwich
People
Population	1,917Lowest	3,640Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average	40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S.
	Norwich and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S.	$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Norwich and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S.	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S.	$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Holderness and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	30.7%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Norwich and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#1 of 70 in VT
School district	Holderness School District	Norwich School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.