What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).

Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwich	Manchester
People
Population	3,640Lowest	115,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S.	38±1Lowest about the U.S. average
	Norwich and Manchester 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%	18%±1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Norwich and Manchester 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%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Manchester 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.	$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.	$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S.
	Manchester and Norwich 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.	$5,922Lowest 90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Manchester 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%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 70 in VT	#115 of 120 in NH
School district	Norwich School District	Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District
High school in town	None in town	Manchester Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	6 photos →

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.