Compare towns
Norwich vs Canaan vs Pelham
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).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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.
| Measure | Norwich | Canaan | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
3,811 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Pelham 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%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Pelham 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% |
19.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canaan and Pelham 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Pelham 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. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Pelham 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. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Pelham 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. |
$8,634 177% 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% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Pelham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Norwich 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.