Compare towns
Norwich vs Strafford vs Windham
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).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Strafford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
4,306 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Norwich 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% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Strafford School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.