What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).

Grafton has the most affordable homes ($343k 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	Grafton
People
Population	3,640Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT
Kids under 18	24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%	5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81%Highest VT: 43.8%	48.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%	7.1%±5Highest VT: 7%
	Grafton 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	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT	$343,200±$85kLowest 8% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT	$1,288±$174Lowest 4% above VT
	Norwich and Grafton 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	$4,843Lowest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Grafton 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%	4.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	89.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 19% below VT	24 minHighest 4% above VT
Work from home	21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9%	15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Norwich and Grafton 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	Athens Grafton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.