What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Amsterdam has the most affordable homes ($138k 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	Norwich	Amsterdam
People
Population	3,640Lowest	18,166Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S.	39.5±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average
	Norwich and Amsterdam 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%	23%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Amsterdam 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%	19.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amsterdam and Norwich 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%	22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S.	$56,178±$8kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.	$137,900±$11kLowest 59% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,006±$45Lowest 29% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,369Lowest 40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amsterdam and Norwich 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%	20.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 70 in VT	#474 of 484 in NY
School district	Norwich School District	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.