Compare towns
Norwich vs Hampton Falls vs Waitsfield vs Thetford
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).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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.
| Measure | Norwich | Hampton Falls | Waitsfield | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
2,328 |
1,918Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% 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. |
43.6±6.2 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest 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% |
20.8%±6 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% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% 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. |
$6,948 123% 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%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest 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% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older 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. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Norwich 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Hampton Falls School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Thetford School District |
| 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.