Compare towns

Norwich vs Bethlehem 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 highest household income ($140k).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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.

MeasureNorwichBethlehemStowe
People
Population
3,640
2,537Lowest
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
50.6±8.5Highest
30% above U.S.
46.3±7.6
19% above U.S.
Bethlehem and Stowe 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%
17.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Stowe 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%
28.2%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bethlehem and Stowe 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%
45.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Stowe 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.
$85,029±$18kLowest
5% above U.S.
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$288,300±$22kLowest
13% below 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±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,174±$81Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
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 221% above U.S.
$5,418Lowest
74% above U.S.
$7,161
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.3%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bethlehem 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%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
20 minHighest
23% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Stowe 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 #34 of 120 in NH —
School district Norwich School District Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town Profile Senior High School Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9Lowest
11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.