Compare towns
Lebanon vs Norwich vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
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 | Lebanon | Norwich | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
3,640 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Norwich School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.