Compare towns

Norwich vs Lincoln vs Stowe

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 affordable homes ($342k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

MeasureNorwichLincolnStowe
People
Population
3,640
1,461Lowest
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
46.8±10.1Highest
20% above U.S.
46.3±7.6
19% above U.S.
Lincoln and Stowe 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%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Stowe 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%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Lincoln and Stowe 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
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±$54kLowest
13% below U.S.
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$342,000±$38kLowest
about the U.S. average
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
Stowe and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,143±$498Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
Norwich and Stowe 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.
$7,161
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lincoln and Norwich 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%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stowe 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 Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town Lin-Wood Public School (High) Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.4Lowest
11.3Highest
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.