Compare towns
Norwich vs Lancaster vs Bow
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 expensive homes ($638k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Lancaster | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
3,216Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.