Compare towns
Norwich vs Pembroke vs Exeter
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 expensive homes ($638k median).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Pembroke | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
7,438 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Norwich 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. |
$7,589Lowest 143% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Exeter 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Pembroke School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.


