Compare towns
Norwich vs Hanover vs Shelburne vs Lyme
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 most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Lyme has the most homeowners (80.5%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Shelburne | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
8,479Highest |
7,969 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Lyme 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44kLowest 77% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,173Lowest 162% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Lyme 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Lyme 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lyme School District |
| High school 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.