Compare towns
Norwich vs Townsend vs Newfields
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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Townsend | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
9,100Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Norwich 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Newfields 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | North Middlesex | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.