Compare towns
Norwich vs Orford vs Richmond
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Orford | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,295Lowest |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Orford and Richmond 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% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Richmond 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% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford and Richmond 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% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford 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. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
— |
| Norwich and Orford 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. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orford and Norwich 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.