Compare towns

Madbury 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

Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).

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.

MeasureMadburyNorwichWaitsfield
People
Population
2,203
3,640Highest
1,918Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.7±2.1Lowest
3% below U.S.
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
29%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23.8%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.3%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$148,365±$30kHighest
84% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$476,900±$31k
43% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$422,400±$92kLowest
27% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,574±$759Highest
11% above U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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
16.7%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±30.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waitsfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
14%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Norwich and Waitsfield 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 — #1 of 70 in VT —
School district Oyster River Coop School District Norwich School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.