Compare towns
Norwich vs Reading vs Williston
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 most expensive homes ($638k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Reading | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
699Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Reading and Williston 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Williston 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 73% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston 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 98% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Williston 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.