Compare towns
Norwich vs Pelham vs Hartford 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 most kids (24% under 18).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Pelham | Hartford | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
14,449Highest |
10,736 |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Hartford 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% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Hartford 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Hartford 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% 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. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 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. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Pelham School District | Hartford School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Hartford High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
9.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.