Compare towns
Norwich vs Amherst vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.
| Measure | Norwich | Amherst | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
11,861Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Amherst 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. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 70 in VT | #20 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.