What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Norwich	Nelson
People
Population	3,640Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S.
	Nelson and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Norwich 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%	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Nelson 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.	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Norwich and Nelson 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.	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nelson and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson 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	—
School district	Norwich School District	Nelson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.