Compare towns
Norwich vs Chester vs Hartford
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 people working from home (21%).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Chester | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
5,300 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Chester and Hartford 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% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Chester 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% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford 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±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Chester and Norwich 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. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Chester 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. |
— | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Hartford 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. |
$8,464 171% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Chester School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.