Compare towns
Norwich vs Waitsfield vs Hartford vs Thetford
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).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Thetford has the most homeowners (84.1%).
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 | Waitsfield | Hartford | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,918Lowest |
10,736Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford 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% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
68% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Hartford 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 |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$329,500±$96k 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
| Norwich and Hartford 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 |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Hartford School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.