Compare towns
Norwich vs Bellows Falls vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Bellows Falls | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
2,891Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls 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 73% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 101% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| 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±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Norwich and Stowe 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 98% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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 VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Norwich 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.