Compare towns
Norwich vs Auburn vs Stratham 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
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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.
| Measure | Norwich | Auburn | Stratham | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
6,119 |
7,754Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 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+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Stratham 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% |
55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn 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. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich 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. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Stratham and Auburn 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. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Stratham 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.