Compare towns
Norwich vs Lee vs Hooksett vs Waitsfield
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Lee | Hooksett | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
4,576 |
15,057Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Lee 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Lee 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. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Hooksett 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.