Compare towns
Norwich vs Williston vs Wilder vs Stowe
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Stowe has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Wilder | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
10,144Highest |
3,087Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe and Wilder 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 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%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Stowe 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% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 101% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% 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±$322 18% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| 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 98% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Williston 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Stowe High School |
| 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.