Compare towns
Norwich vs Cornwall vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Cornwall | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Cornwall and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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 73% above VT |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Norwich and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$422,400±$92kLowest 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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 98% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.