Compare towns
Norwich vs Mapleton vs Waitsfield vs Richmond
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Waitsfield | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,884Lowest |
1,918 |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Richmond 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Richmond 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Richmond 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% 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. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.