Compare towns

Norwich vs Plainfield vs Hartford

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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).

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.

MeasureNorwichPlainfieldHartford
People
Population
3,640
2,522Lowest
10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.2±3.9Highest
11% above U.S.
Hartford and Norwich 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%
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Plainfield 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%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartford and Plainfield 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%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hartford 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.
$122,656±$13k
52% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
Norwich and Plainfield 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.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
Plainfield 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.
$7,904
153% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hartford and Plainfield 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%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Norwich and Plainfield 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 #19 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT
School district Norwich School District Plainfield School District Hartford School District
High school in town None in town None in town Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.6
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.