Compare towns
Norwich vs Lyme vs Waitsfield vs Shelburne
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 youngest population (median age 40.8).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
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 | Lyme | Waitsfield | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,710Lowest |
1,918 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield 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% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44k 77% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$8,173 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Waitsfield 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Lyme 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 | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lyme School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 | 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.