Compare towns
Norwich vs Wilder vs Richmond 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 most expensive homes ($638k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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.
| Measure | Norwich | Wilder | Richmond | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
3,087 |
4,159Highest |
2,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Richmond 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Richmond 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
68% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Thetford 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 |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
| Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$329,500±$96k 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
— | $1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
| Norwich and Wilder 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 |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Thetford School District |
| 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 | 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.