Compare towns
Norwich vs Orford 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 highest household income ($140k).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,295Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Orford 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% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Orford 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% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest 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±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% 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. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Orford 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.