Compare towns

Norwich vs Lee 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%).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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.

MeasureNorwichLeeWaitsfield
People
Population
3,640
4,576Highest
1,918Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
42.9±1.9
10% 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%±5.6Lowest
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%
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%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%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lee 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±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$131,579±$54k
63% 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.
$422,400±$92kLowest
27% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
—
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
Norwich and Waitsfield 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.
$6,208Lowest
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%
47.4%±30.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waitsfield and Lee 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%
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 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.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1Lowest
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 —
School district Norwich School District Oyster River Coop School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 10 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.