Compare towns
Norwich vs Ogunquit vs Waitsfield vs Hartford
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Ogunquit | Waitsfield | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,379Lowest |
1,918 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford 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±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Hartford 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.