Compare towns
Norwich vs Windham vs Canaan vs Thetford
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Canaan | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
16,038Highest |
3,811 |
2,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Thetford 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% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 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% |
19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thetford and Canaan 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% 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% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Thetford 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. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% 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% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan 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% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Windham School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.