Compare towns
Norwich vs Durham vs Brookline 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 expensive homes ($638k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k 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 | Brookline | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
15,080Highest |
5,736 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich 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%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% 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% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Brookline 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±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Norwich 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Waitsfield 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% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.