What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwich	Fairlee
People
Population	3,640Highest	1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT
Kids under 18	24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81%Highest VT: 43.8%	46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Norwich 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 73% above VT	$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT	$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT	$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT
	Norwich and Fairlee 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 98% above VT	$5,617Lowest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 19% below VT	24 minHighest 3% above VT
Work from home	21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9%	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Norwich and Fairlee 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	—
School district	Norwich School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.