Compare towns

Norwich vs Hampton Falls vs Waitsfield vs Richmond

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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).

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 FallsWaitsfieldRichmond
People
Population
3,640
2,328
1,918Lowest
4,159Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
49.5±7.3Highest
27% above U.S.
44.3±5.3
14% above U.S.
43.7±5.6
12% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and Waitsfield 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%
19.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.8%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±5
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Waitsfield 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%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Waitsfield and Hampton Falls 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%
54.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
$108,235±$24k
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$422,400±$92kLowest
27% above U.S.
$432,200±$39k
30% above U.S.
Hampton Falls 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.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
—
Hampton Falls 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,208Lowest
99% above U.S.
$6,868
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±30.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
28.5%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Waitsfield 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%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Richmond and Hampton Falls 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 — — #5 of 70 in VT
School district Norwich School District Hampton Falls School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.