What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most affordable homes ($638k median).

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwich	Rye
People
Population	3,640Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Rye 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%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Rye 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±$76kLowest 92% above U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
	Rye 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.	$7,519Lowest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye 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%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye 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	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Norwich School District	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.