What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k 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	Hampstead
People
Population	3,640Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Norwich 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%	21.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Hampstead 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%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampstead and Norwich 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%	44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampstead 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 74% above U.S.	$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Norwich and Hampstead 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.	$521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S.
	Norwich and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Norwich and Hampstead 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.	$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampstead 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 U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1%	21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 70 in VT	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Norwich School District	Hampstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.