Compare towns
Norwich vs Madison vs Strafford
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).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Madison | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
2,680Lowest |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Madison and Strafford 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% |
23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Strafford 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$102,697±$11kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Strafford 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. |
$388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Madison 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. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Madison 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Madison School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.