Compare towns
Norwich vs Sturbridge vs Richmond
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 most expensive homes ($638k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Sturbridge | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
9,960Highest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Richmond 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Richmond 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% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Sturbridge 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 74% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Norwich and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| 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.