Compare towns
Norwich vs Nelson vs Stowe
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).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Nelson | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
648Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% 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% |
1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Stowe 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±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Stowe 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. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.