Compare towns
Norwich vs Windham vs Bedford vs Hartford
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 youngest population (median age 40.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Windham | Bedford | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
16,038 |
23,746Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Hartford 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% |
18%±3Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Bedford 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest 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% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below 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±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below 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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% 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%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Windham 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% |
11.1%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% |
67.8%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. |
1979Lowest 1 yr 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. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Windham 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 | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Windham School District | Bedford School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bedford High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.