Compare towns
Norwich vs Williston vs Hanover vs Lyme
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Lyme has the most homeowners (80.5%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Williston | Hanover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
10,144Highest |
8,479 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Lyme 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Hanover 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 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Lyme 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 |
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.