Compare towns

Norwich vs Plainfield vs Windham

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 renters (28.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureNorwichPlainfieldWindham
People
Population
3,640
2,522Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.1±2.9Highest
6% above U.S.
Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Norwich 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%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kLowest
52% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kLowest
33% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,904Lowest
153% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #19 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH
School district Norwich School District Plainfield School District Windham School District
High school in town None in town None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
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.