Compare towns
Norwich vs Richmond vs Hartford
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).
Richmond has the most homeowners (78.8%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
4,159 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
43.7±5.6Highest about the VT average |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Richmond and Hartford 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Richmond 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% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Hartford 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 |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
— | $1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
| Norwich and Hartford 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford 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% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.