Compare towns
Norwich vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k 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.
| Measure | Norwich | Meredith | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
6,758Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.