Compare towns
Norwich vs Durham vs Waitsfield vs Stowe
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 highest household income ($140k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Waitsfield | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
15,080Highest |
1,918Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Stowe 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% |
63.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% 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% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Stowe 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. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% 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% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 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 5% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.