Compare towns
Norwich vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Strafford | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,372Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Strafford 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Hartford 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 |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
| Norwich and Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,218±$118 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 |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Strafford School District | 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.