What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).

Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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.

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

Measure	Mason	Norwich
People
Population	1,451Lowest	3,640Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Mason and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mason and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Norwich and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S.	$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S.	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S.	$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Mason and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Lowest 126% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mason and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Norwich and Mason 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	Mason 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.