Compare towns
Norwich vs Exeter vs Stowe vs Hartford
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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Stowe | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,285 |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stowe 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter 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% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below 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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% 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% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hartford 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Stowe Town School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Stowe High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.