Compare towns
Norwich vs Richmond vs Hanover vs Shelburne
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 kids (24% under 18).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Richmond | Hanover | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
4,159 |
11,685Highest |
7,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Richmond 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% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44k 77% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
— | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,442±$589Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,173 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Shelburne 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Hanover 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.