Compare towns
Norwich vs Windham vs Manchester
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Manchester has the oldest population (median age 54.5).
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 | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
16,038Highest |
4,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% 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. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest 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% |
25.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%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% |
5.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester 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. |
$94,886±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$454,600±$47kLowest 37% 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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,923Lowest 90% 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% |
56.5%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester 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% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school 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 |
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.