Compare towns

Norwich vs Lancaster vs Richmond

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).

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.

MeasureNorwichLancasterRichmond
People
Population
3,640
3,216Lowest
4,159Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
45.5±6.9Highest
17% above U.S.
43.7±5.6
12% above U.S.
Lancaster and Richmond 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%
21.5%±5
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Richmond 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%
19.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Richmond 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%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
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.
$108,235±$24k
34% above U.S.
Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$432,200±$39k
30% above 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.
$6,868
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
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%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Richmond 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 #5 of 70 in VT
School district Norwich School District White Mountains Regional School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
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

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.