Compare towns
Norwich vs Eliot vs Amherst
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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Eliot | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
7,146 |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Amherst 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Amherst 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Amherst 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Amherst 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±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Amherst 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Amherst 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 70 in VT | #19 of 133 in ME | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.