Compare towns
Norwich vs Hartford vs Stowe 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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Hartford | Stowe | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
10,736Highest |
5,285 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Stowe 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% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford 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. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme 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. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lyme 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. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Hartford 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Hartford School District | Stowe Town School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.