Compare towns
Norwich vs Danby vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Danby | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,133Lowest |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
| Manchester and Danby 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% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Manchester 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% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Danby 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% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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 73% above VT |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,057±$76 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.