Compare towns

Norwich vs Putney vs Stowe

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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.

MeasureNorwichPutneyStowe
People
Population
3,640
2,622Lowest
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+21.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% below VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
46.3±7.6Highest
7% above VT
Stowe 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
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±4.6
VT: 17.9%
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
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
25.8%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Stowe and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
66.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$93,618±$33k
15% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
101% above VT
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$647,800±$157kHighest
105% above VT
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
18% above VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,458±$242
18% above VT
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 98% above VT
$5,313Lowest
5% above VT
$7,161
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
78.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
19% below VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
19 minHighest
18% below VT
Work from home
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Stowe 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 #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Norwich School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town None in town Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.