Compare towns
Norwich vs Windham vs Bedford vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 45).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
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 | Windham | Bedford | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
16,038 |
23,746Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bedford 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803Lowest 214% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Bedford 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Windham School District | Bedford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bedford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.