Compare towns
Norwich vs Exeter vs Brookline 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
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 | Exeter | Brookline | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,736 |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Richmond 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% 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±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
— |
| Brookline and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Norwich 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.