Compare towns

Norwich vs Hampton Beach vs Stowe

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).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

MeasureNorwichHampton BeachStowe
People
Population
3,640
2,605Lowest
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
46.3±7.6
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6
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%
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton Beach and Stowe 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%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Stowe 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.
$82,557±$17kLowest
about the U.S. average
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$508,900±$76kLowest
53% above U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above 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±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,375±$130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
Norwich and Stowe 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.
$6,115Lowest
96% above U.S.
$7,161
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton Beach 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%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Beach and Stowe 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 — Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town — Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.