Compare towns
Norwich vs Williston vs Windham vs Richmond
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 renters (28.1% rent).
Williston has the oldest population (median age 45.4).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
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 | Windham | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
10,144 |
16,038Highest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Richmond 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
— |
| 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. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.