What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwich	Lancaster
People
Population	3,640Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Norwich 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%	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Lancaster 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%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Lancaster 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.	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Norwich and Lancaster 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.	$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster 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%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Norwich and Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Norwich School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.