Compare towns
Norwich vs Canaan vs Durham
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).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Canaan | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
3,811 |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Norwich 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% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canaan and Norwich 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Durham 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% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Durham 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.