Compare towns
Norwich vs Lebanon vs Durham vs Hartford
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
14,999 |
15,080Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Lebanon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Lebanon 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% 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% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Oyster River High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.