What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).

Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwich	Thornton
People
Population	3,640Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thornton and Norwich 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%	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S.	$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.	$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Norwich and Thornton 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.	$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thornton 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%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thornton 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	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Norwich School District	Thornton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.