Compare towns
Norwich vs Durham vs Bedford vs Richmond
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Durham | Bedford | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
15,080 |
23,746Highest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Richmond 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Richmond 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Richmond 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.