Compare towns
Norwich vs Dunbarton vs Hanover vs Waitsfield
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 kids (24% under 18).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dunbarton | Hanover | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
3,097 |
8,479Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 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% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Dunbarton 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% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Dunbarton School District | — | 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 | 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.