Compare towns
Norwich vs Richmond vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
4,159 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Richmond and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 74% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwich School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.