Compare towns
Norwich vs Wardsboro vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Wardsboro | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
820Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex 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% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Middlesex 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% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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 98% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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 VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.