Compare towns
Norwich vs Canaan vs Waitsfield vs Stowe
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 highest household income ($140k).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Waitsfield has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Waitsfield | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
3,811 |
1,918Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Canaan 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% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Stowe 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% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan 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±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Norwich 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. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Stowe 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. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Waitsfield 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.