Compare towns
Norwich vs Waitsfield vs Wilder
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 most homeowners (79.9%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,918Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder 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% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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 |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Wilder 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.