What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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	Barnstead
People
Population	3,640Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Norwich 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%	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Barnstead 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%	20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnstead 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%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barnstead 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±$12kHighest 74% above U.S.	$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.	$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average
	Norwich and Barnstead 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.	$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead 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%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Norwich and Barnstead 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	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Norwich School District	Barnstead 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.