Compare towns
Norwich vs Weare vs Plaistow vs Hartford
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).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Weare | Plaistow | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
9,170 |
7,861 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Weare and Hartford 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% |
22.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Weare 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Plaistow 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% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford 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 74% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Weare 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. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Weare 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. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.