Compare towns
Norwich vs Williston vs Henniker
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).
Williston has the oldest population (median age 45.4).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
10,144Highest |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Williston and Norwich 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% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Henniker 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,877 185% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Henniker 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 70 in VT | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Henniker 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 |
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.