Compare towns
Norwich vs Putney vs Waitsfield
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).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Putney | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
2,622 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.