Compare towns
Norwich vs Lincoln vs Fairlee
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 highest household income ($140k).
Lincoln has the most homeowners (72%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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.
| Measure | Norwich | Lincoln | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,461 |
54Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.8±10.1 20% above U.S. |
63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Lincoln 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% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lincoln 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% |
28.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
37%±54.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Lincoln 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% |
38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Lincoln 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. |
$70,625±$54k 13% below U.S. |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$342,000±$38k about the U.S. average |
$277,500±$28kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,143±$498 19% below U.S. |
$1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Lincoln 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. |
$2,984Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Lincoln 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.4 |
— |
| 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.