Compare towns
Norwich vs Newfields vs Shelburne vs Hanover
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 kids (24% under 18).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newfields | Shelburne | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
2,023Lowest |
7,969 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44kLowest 77% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,442±$589Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,173Lowest 162% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Shelburne 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Hanover 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Newfields School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.