What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most people working from home (21%).

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwich	Bridgewater
People
Population	3,640Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Bridgewater 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.	$82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.	$398,600±$65kLowest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Norwich and Bridgewater 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.	$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	32.1%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater 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%	11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Norwich School District	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.