Compare towns
Norwich vs Rye vs Waitsfield
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k 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 | Rye | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
5,611Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Waitsfield 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% |
61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% 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% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% 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±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Rye 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
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.