Compare towns

Norwich vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
Stowe has the most people working from home (24.4%).

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.

MeasureNorwichOrangeStowe
People
Population
3,640
320Lowest
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.3±9.1
6% above U.S.
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
Stowe and Orange 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%
20.6%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Stowe 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%
20%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe and Orange 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%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±3.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Orange 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.
$118,750±$39k
47% above U.S.
$93,618±$33kLowest
16% above U.S.
Norwich and Orange 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.
$302,600±$35kLowest
9% below U.S.
$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.
—
$1,458±$242Lowest
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.
$5,132Lowest
65% above U.S.
$7,161
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Norwich and Stowe 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%
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
20.8%±8.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stowe 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 — Stowe Town School District
High school 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.