Compare towns

Norwich vs White River Junction vs Stowe 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).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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.

MeasureNorwichWhite River JunctionStoweThetford
People
Population
3,640
3,364
5,285Highest
2,813Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+10.8%
VT: +2.8%
+21.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+7.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% below VT
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
46.3±7.6Highest
7% above VT
43.6±6.2
about the VT average
Stowe 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%
17.1%±5
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±4.6
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.8%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.8%±6
VT: 21.4%
Stowe and Thetford 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%
66.7%
VT: 43.8%
68%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.6
VT: 7%
6.7%±4.5Highest
VT: 7%
Thetford 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
$77,168±$4kLowest
5% below VT
$93,618±$33k
15% above VT
$88,045±$16k
8% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
101% above VT
$278,800±$78kLowest
12% below VT
$647,800±$157kHighest
105% above VT
$329,500±$96k
4% above VT
Stowe and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
$1,222±$216
about the VT average
$1,458±$242
18% above VT
$1,141±$96Lowest
8% below VT
Norwich and Stowe 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
$5,651Lowest
12% above VT
$7,161
42% above VT
$6,948
38% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
42.9%±17.3
VT: 48.4%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.7%±30.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Thetford and White River Junction 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%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
VT: 73.2%
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
78.6%
VT: 73.2%
84.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1963Lowest
13 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
19% below VT
15 minLowest
35% below VT
19 min
18% below VT
23 minHighest
4% below VT
Work from home
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
15.7%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Stowe 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 — — #40 of 70 in VT
School district Norwich School District — Stowe Town School District Thetford School District
High school in town None in town — Stowe High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.3
—
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.