Compare towns
Norwich vs Bedford vs Pelham 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 kids (24% under 18).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Bedford | Pelham | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
23,746Highest |
14,449 |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Hartford 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Bedford 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. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Bedford 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Bedford School District | Pelham School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Pelham High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.4 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.