Compare towns
Norwich vs Strafford vs Middlebury
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 oldest population (median age 51.4).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,372Lowest |
7,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest 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%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Middlebury 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$86,250±$18kLowest 6% above 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 |
$417,400±$31kLowest 32% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,201±$120 about the VT average |
| Norwich and Middlebury 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 |
$6,795Lowest 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.