Compare towns
Norwich vs Thetford vs Waitsfield vs Shelburne
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 highest household income ($140k).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
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 | Thetford | Waitsfield | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
2,813 |
1,918Lowest |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield 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% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield 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% |
68% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Thetford 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±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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 |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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 |
$6,948 38% above VT |
$6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
$8,173 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield 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% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Thetford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.