Compare towns

Norwich vs Sunapee vs Brookline

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).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

MeasureNorwichSunapeeBrookline
People
Population
3,640
3,416Lowest
5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline 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%
33.3%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline 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.
$101,393±$20kLowest
26% above U.S.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$393,000±$51kLowest
18% above U.S.
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
Norwich and Brookline 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.
$1,713±$451
21% above U.S.
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
Brookline and Sunapee 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.
$4,400Lowest
41% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
34.6%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sunapee and Norwich 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%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
33 min
24% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline 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 #14 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district Norwich School District Sunapee School District Brookline School District
High school in town None in town Sunapee Sr. High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9
—
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.