Compare towns

Norwich vs Waitsfield vs Madbury

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 most expensive homes ($638k median).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).

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.

MeasureNorwichWaitsfieldMadbury
People
Population
3,640Highest
1,918Lowest
2,203
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
44.3±5.3Highest
14% above U.S.
37.7±2.1Lowest
3% below U.S.
Waitsfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23.8%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
29%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Madbury 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%
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Waitsfield 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.
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
$148,365±$30kHighest
84% above U.S.
Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$422,400±$92kLowest
27% above U.S.
$476,900±$31k
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,574±$759Highest
11% above U.S.
Madbury and Norwich 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.
$6,208Lowest
99% 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%
47.4%±30.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waitsfield 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%
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — —
School district Norwich School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.