Compare towns
Norwich vs Manchester vs Waitsfield
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).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Manchester | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
115,643Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Norwich 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% |
23.8%±5.1 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest 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 |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below 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. |
$6,208 99% 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% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.