Compare towns
Norwich vs Lebanon vs Bedford
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).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Lebanon | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
14,999 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bedford 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Bedford 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% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Lebanon 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. |
$8,149Lowest 161% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lebanon School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.