Compare towns
Norwich vs Bow vs Bedford vs Waitsfield
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k 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 | Bow | Bedford | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
8,335 |
23,746Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above 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. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Waitsfield 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Bow School District | Bedford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.