Compare towns
Norwich vs Canaan vs Durham vs Thetford
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 20.8).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
3,811 |
15,080Highest |
2,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Thetford 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Thetford 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thetford and Canaan 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% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96 19% 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. |
$6,948 123% 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% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.