Compare towns
Norwich vs Wilder vs Portsmouth
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 kids (24% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Wilder | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
3,087Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Portsmouth 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Portsmouth 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% |
60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 74% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.