Compare towns

Norwich vs Newfields vs Stowe 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 most renters (28.1% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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.

MeasureNorwichNewfieldsStoweWaitsfield
People
Population
3,640
2,023
5,285Highest
1,918Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
44.3±5.3
14% above U.S.
Stowe and Waitsfield 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%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6
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%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Waitsfield and Stowe 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%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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±$12k
74% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
$422,400±$92kLowest
27% above U.S.
Stowe and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
Newfields and Norwich 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.
$7,161
130% above U.S.
$6,208Lowest
99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±30.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waitsfield and Newfields 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%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 min
27% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 Newfields School District Stowe Town School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town None in town Stowe High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.3
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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.