Compare towns
Norwich vs Bedford vs Auburn vs Stowe
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 renters (28.1% rent).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Auburn has the most homeowners (93.9%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Bedford | Auburn | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
23,746Highest |
6,119 |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Bedford 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% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Bedford 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% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Auburn 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. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kLowest 80% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Norwich 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Auburn 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Bedford School District | Auburn School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.