Compare towns
Johnson vs Bellows Falls vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Johnson | Bellows Falls | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
2,891Lowest |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
41.3±6.7Highest 4% below VT |
40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Johnson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
| Norwich and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 70 in VT | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.